Tinder introduces ‘Blind Date’ feature that lets users find matches without seeing profiles first

Before smartphones and online dating apps, going on blind dates was one of the ways people meet potential partners. Now, Tinder is bringing it back as one of the app’s Fast Chat features.

Similar to conventional blind dates, Tinder’s Blind Date will allow users to chat with one another without seeing the profiles. That means they get to learn a little bit about the other’s personality before seeing their photos, which is quite a departure from swiping left and right on the app.

“Inspired by the OG way to meet someone new, usually at the hand of a meddlesome aunt or well-meaning friend, Blind Date gives the daters of today a low-pressure way to put their personality first and find a match they truly vibe with,” Tinder said in the announcement post.

Blind Date can be accessed from the Explore tab, under Fast Chat. Tinder users will be asked to answer a series of “icebreaker questions” in the form of multiple-choice prompts. As mentioned above, the app’s version of a blind date is designed to remove the pressure from its conventional practice, so the sample questions Tinder gave are not that serious. Tinder said users could be asked what food they usually put ketchup on or what is the acceptable number of times to wear unwashed shirts.

Based on their answers, Tinder users will be matched with another person. They can engage in a time-restricted chat, and if they like the other person’s personality, they can hit the “Like” button. Profiles will only be revealed to one another if they are a match.

Tinder said it has tested the feature before releasing it to users in the United States on Thursday. “In early testing, members who used the Blind Date feature made 40% more matches than those using another Fast Chat feature with profiles visible,” the company noted.

Blind Date is the latest feature Tinder introduced in the Explore tab, particularly in the Fast Chat section, allowing users to find more fun ways to meet new people on the app. As mentioned, Blind Date is currently only available in the U.S. But the company confirmed it will be released to users around the world “in the coming weeks.”

Photo by solenfeyissa on Pixabay