Match Group’s broken safety promises leave users vulnerable to assault—while predators keep swiping

What do Tinder, OK Cupid, Plenty of Fish, and Hinge users have in common? Answer: they are all potentially at risk of violent sexual assault according to an 18-month investigative report issued by the Pulitzer Center’s AI Accountability Network and The Markup, copublished with The 19th and The Guardian.

According to The Markup, the Dating Apps Reporting Project found:

“Match Group has known for years which users have been reported for drugging, assaulting, or raping their dates since at least 2016, according to internal company documents. Since 2019, Match Group’s central database has recorded every user reported for rape and assault across its entire suite of apps; by 2022, the system, known as Sentinel, was collecting hundreds of troubling incidents every week, company insiders say.”

Unfortunately, this—and information about specific perpetrators and their profiles—hasn’t reached Match Group’s vast number of customers. Nor have the corporation’s vaunted safety procedures prevented banned users from signing up on other Match Group services. 

As of March 5, 2025, Match Group owns forty-four dating services worldwide, including Match.com, LDS Planet, Little People Meet, Archer, India Match, and Republican People Meet. Match Group is based in Dallas, TX. 

Dangerous data

In 2022, researchers from Brigham Young University published a study of dating app facilitated sexual assault (DAppSA) through analysis of 274 cases out of “3,413 sexual assault medical forensic examination (SAMFE) charts from 2017 to 2020.” They found that DAppSA cases were often markedly more violent than other sexual assault (SA) cases, with 32.4% more strangulation, and more assaultive/penetrative acts, and anogenital and breast injuries than in non-DAPPSA sexual assault cases.

The DAppSA victims were more likely to be college age, and/or to self-report mental illness.  A higher percentage were male than in the non-DAppSA sexual assault cases.

The Brigham Young study is just one of many inquiries into the problem of sexual assault among dating app users. 

Four dating platforms, over fifty fake accounts

Spurred by these and other findings, Pulitzer Center’s AI Accountability Network and The Markup collaborated to “test how Match Group treats reports of sexual assault and whether users banned from Tinder after a reported sexual assault could return to Match Group apps by creating new accounts.” These fake accounts deliberately did not interact with any real Match Group users. 

The Markup created over fifty fictitious accounts on four Match Group platforms: Tinder, Plenty of Fish, OkCupid, and Hinge. Their investigation first focused on the time it took Tinder to respond to reports of sexual assaults. Problematic accounts were banned within two days.

The Markup then tested whether a user banned on Tinder could use their same account information to sign up for other Match Group dating apps. Only Plenty of Fish cooperated with this phase of the investigation, allowing The Markup to create new accounts using the banned Tinder information. Plenty of Fish generally deleted these accounts within two days.  

The Markup then consulted online forums and guides to discover non-technical ways users could bypass bans and create new accounts on Match Group platforms. 

A simple search showed Reddit, Wikihow, and YouTube, along with many other sites, contain such information. Using these simple methods, The Markup “successfully created new accounts without needing to change the [fictitious] user’s name, birthday, or profile photos.” 

The Dark Tetrad and dating apps

A 2022 study from The University of Liverpool explored the motivations behind Tinder use by people exhibiting one or more of “a constellation of four interrelated, yet distinctive personality traits; Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism,” otherwise known as The Dark Tetrad. 

A plethora of research sources, cited in this study, says characteristics of these personality traits include callousness, emotional coldness, cruelty, sadism, low empathy, a tendency to troll, a sense of entitlement, anti-social behaviors, and long-term manipulative strategizing.

The research surveyed 216 current or former Tinder users, 67 identifying as male  and 149 as female. Findings include: high psychopathy users went to the app for casual sex and also used it for distraction and procrastination; and Machiavellians used the app to acquire social approval and flirting skills. 

Both high psychopathy users and Machiavellians found entertainment in reviewing profiles. Tinder was also viewed as a forum for trolling. Interestingly, female Machiavellians were susceptible to peer pressure to use Tinder. Also, “sadism did not predict Tinder use motivations.” The study found: 

“Men scored higher than women in using Tinder for sexual motives, and for finding out about sexual orientation. Women scored higher than men in using Tinder to get back at their ex-partner, as well as using it under peer pressure. Men scored higher than women in all of the Dark Tetrad traits, as well as the trolling measure.”

In other words, the people behind dating profiles might have far different personalities, motivations and objectives than those they express on the app. And without built-in background checks of criminal history databases (at no extra cost), how can a user realistically assess their risk?

It’s not enough to trust your gut

The Dating Apps Reporting Project didn’t just focus on the apps experiment, it also reviewed extensive court records and internal company documents, analyst reports and securities filings. 

The project also included numerous interviews with past and present employees of these companies, as well as survivors of dating app facilitated sexual assault (DAppSA), the data showing Match Group is woefully inadequate and utterly negligent in providing any real safety or security for its users in spite of daily complaints, bad press, US Congressional inquiry, and several years of promises to do more to promote safety.

The Markup concludes “women who report being raped get no traction, while accused rapists…keep swiping — and assaulting.”

Rather than buyer beware or trust your gut—which ignores deliberate deception and ultimately blames the victim—the  Brigham Young study recommended a social systems approach, using safety measures such as providing information about consent and dating app safety with every log-in; validation of government ID prior to creating a profile; free connection to criminal history databases; as well as the use of AI to block unwanted text or pictures. In addition, the study suggested “transparent systems for reports of SA, and responding quickly to sexual violence disclosures.”

Meanwhile, The Markup encourages photo verification, though all these precautions may not prevent verified users from assaulting other dating app users–sometimes for years even after reports have been lodged against them.

It’s enough to turn even the least digisexual person toward AI companionship, isn’t it?

Images: A.R Marsh using Ideogram.ai.

The post Swiping Right on Danger: Dating Apps Enabling Repeat Offenders appeared first on Future of Sex.

Say hello to your state-of-the-art personal relationship assistant

By now, most of us are probably familiar—perhaps intimately so—with how we can form sexual, not to mention fulfilling emotional connections, with many of today’s ultra-sophisticated machine learning systems.

But while those same artificial intelligences have a long way to go in helping us find human companionship, we can assume that AI technology will soon be an invaluable tool for finding, navigating, nurturing, protecting, and even revealing a great deal about ourselves and our desires.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me an AI match 

Let’s face it: when it comes to separating the wheat from the chaff, contemporary, often AI-employing dating apps and platforms are, to put it politely, not exactly the best.  

Often fail to ward off legions of relentless spammers, scammers, and catfishers or else they “match” users with obviously unsuitable candidates or they introduce you to someone who maybe, possibly, might be interesting but who happens to live a thousand miles away.

Not surprisingly, an increasing number of younger people have begun ditching dating apps for real, in-person encounters. 

RECOMMENDED READ: Loneliness to Love: Socio-Sexual Robots May Revolutionize Intimacy, Care, and Connection

Treena Orchard, writing for Maclean’s, describesher own frustrating experiences, leaving her with the conclusion that:

“These and other bizarre dating adventures made me wonder whether the apps just sucked or if I was doing something wrong. Why did this person disappear? I’d ask myself. What is the matter with me? But it isn’t just me. These days, nearly three and a half million Canadians use dating apps, and many agree that swiping has become dystopian. We now rely on algorithms to serve us potential partners in the same way we do takeout options and travel deals.”

Your ideal wingperson 

Bad though the present AI-dating world may be, considering the speed at which the technology is seemingly progressing, we should soon see see the rise of truly intuitive synthetic relationship assistants.

To begin with, they wouldn’t waste your time with pointless and frustrating maybes, possibilities, or might-bes. 

How?  Scary though it may sound, you could let them learn everything they need about you, like giving them permission to analyze everything from your taste in food, music, books, and movies to what adult entertainment turns you on the most.  

Then, equipped with this invaluable knowledge, they’d go forth in search of the person or people you’d actually enjoy meeting.

So far, so good, but what about after you and your prospective emotional and/or sexual partner(s) hit it off?  

Returning to the all-important idea of informational consent, your AI-dating assistant could delve deeper, paying attention to troublesome details like run-ins with the law, complaints lodged against them, disturbing social media posts, or anything else you’ve indicated would be an automatic red flag.

Keeping us healthy and safe

The bottom line is that your futuristic, top-of-the-line dating AI would always have your best interests in mind, such as helping maintain your physical and mental welfare.

Something not far from the realm of impossibility, including across what otherwise would be insurmountable cultural barriers. as researchers from South Korea’s Institute for Basic Science concluded in regards to depression, “Our data indicate the possibility of chatbots providing helpful information about depressive moods, especially for users who have difficulty communicating emotions to other humans.”

Keyed to an array of words and phrases or on the lookout for tell-tale behaviors of yours or any possible relationship matches, your AI might be there to—virtually—tap on your shoulder when things aren’t heading in a positive direction.

Help us understand ourselves—and our desires

Working in conjunction with a human sexual therapist, your AI-dating assistant could even help you process and recover from intimacy or sexuality-based traumas.  And when you feel you’re ready to move forward, it’d be there; a combination of relationship coach, cheerleader, and if necessary, a virtual shoulder to cry on.

With all the near-hysteria surrounding the prospective misuse of artificial intelligence technologies, it’s easy to forget the immeasurable good it could also do.  

Not least of which is being a friend when you need one the most, particularly when dealing with how emotionally difficult finding a human partner or playmate can be.

Image Sources: Depositphotos

The post More Than a Lover: How AI Could Reshape Tomorrow’s Dating Scene appeared first on Future of Sex.

Dating apps go all in for artificial intelligence, but to what end?

Apparently fed up with online dating, people under forty are turning to other less digital options.  

A recent market research survey of 1001 youthful respondents (age 21-35) shows a distinct frustration with dating apps and a decided preference for singles events that speak to shared interests like cooking or games. 

Eventbrite’s downloadable survey report, Niche to Meet You, highlights respondents’ safety concerns about dating profiles and their simple desires to have a good time with people whose company they enjoy. The report includes Eventbrite’s own data regarding 2023-2024 dating events and a survey conducted by GWI USA. 

So it’s not surprising this demographic has begun choosing interest-based group activities over online dating platforms where it can be difficult to figure out if they’ve hooked a big one or may just have a catfish on the line. 

It’s a strategy that also may help people to connect with activity partners, if nothing else. 

Meanwhile, back at the apps

In the last year and a half, well-known dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, Match.com, and OK Cupid, have turned to AI for help. 

For example, in February 2023, OK Cupid announced its intention to add matching questions created by Chat GPT to its app, including “are you a morning person or a night person” and “what do you value most in a partner.”

TinderProfile.ai currently invites users to create “stunningly realistic dating pictures that show the best version of you” using AI image generation, and promises more matches as a result. 

RECOMMENDED READ: Who’s Working for Whom? Bumble’s Founder Envisions “AI-Dating Concierges”

Then there are AI avatars that can go on dates while you, I dunno, stay home and wash your hair? 

A recent MSNBC opinion piece expressed dismay when Bumble’s executive chair, Whitney Wolfe, said AI personas—avatars of Bumble users—“would be the next wave of dating.” The Bumble executive appears to endorse the practice of a person’s avatar, also known as an AI dating concierge, dating another person’s dating concierge—though the advantages of this strategy seem murky at best. 

Iris favors visual attraction over compatibility algorithms

Meanwhile, Iris is an AI-based dating app which focuses on visual (aka “primary”) attraction. A promotional video featuring the app’s founder claims 22% of users feel hopeful after using a dating app, but far more (78%) feel frustrated. Note: Iris does not cite its research source. 

To address this frustration, Iris focuses on the power of primary attraction that happens before knowing anything about a person, utilizing machine learning to match mutually attracted people by showing each user hundreds of random profiles and registering their likes. AI then crunches the data suggesting who they might find attractive. In other words, Iris puts visual attraction first and compatibility second. 

Does it work better than other dating apps in finding matches? Who knows. But the app does emphasize safety and trust and appears to do a good job of weeding out  fake profiles, by requiring users to submit a real-time selfie to validate their identity prior to creating a profile. 

Swiping and filtering and real life—looking ahead

Let’s face it, creating an online dating profile is a chore. It can feel daunting, depressing, and many people simply don’t know what to say about themselves. AI could help with that. ChatGPT or another conversational AI assistant could write a profile and as long as it is simple and the items are true, there should be little problem with this. Using an image generator to enhance photos is more problematic—many people would consider this deceptive.

Whether they use AI assistance or not, dating apps are probably not going to go away anytime soon, no matter how frustrated people may feel. And the apps will probably continue to be important to marginalized people who might have fewer options for partners and who may also need an extra layer of safety for personal disclosures. In that case, an app that prioritizes safety, like Iris, would be helpful. 

Millennial and Gen Z folx will probably continue to prefer real life singles and interest-related events to find dates. Will this trend spread to other age groups? If so, it might be wise for dating apps to emphasize activity partners rather than prospective romantic partners–or at least figure out how to make their sites more fun. And then let nature (with a little help from AI), take its course.

Images: A.R. Marsh using Ideogram.ai 

The post Sick of Swiping: Gen Z and Millennials Prefer Real Life Events to Online Dating appeared first on Future of Sex.

Way to ease social connections—or put users’ privacy at risk?

Addressing the recent Bloomberg Technology Summit in San Francisco, Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder and Executive Chair of the popular dating site Bumble, speculated we might soon be able to employ artificially intelligent assistants to make finding emotionally compatible sexual partners easier.

As enticing as the prospect sounds, it also raises serious security concerns. Primarily, who would Wolfe Herd’s “AI-dating concierges” actually work for: the people using them in their search for dates or the companies who developed them?

Helping you?

As reported by Gizmodo, Wolfe Herd described a situation where “You could, in the near future, be talking to your AI dating concierge. You could share your insecurities. There is a world where your dating concierge could go and date for you with other dating concierges.”

According to the same article, Wolfe Herd’s talk wasn’t enthusiastically received, causing her to attempt to put a more positive spin on the idea, “And then you don’t have to talk to 600 people. It could scan all of San Francisco for you and say these are the three people you really ought to meet. So that’s the power of AI if harnessed the right way.”

So, after being thoroughly trained in what you like or don’t like when it comes to companionship, your digital assistant would go forth to meet and greet other AI concierges and, in the process, take a lot of the guesswork (and expense) out of dating.

RECOMMENDED READ: Magic Moments: Unique Ways AI Might Improve Your Love Life

In fact, Bumble’s already moving somewhat in this direction with its new “Opening Move” feature, which gives female-identified users the option to select and send one of several pre-written responses rather than having to write one themselves—a task that could be handled by a built-in AI in the not-too-distant future.

Or helping them?

It’s ironic to hear Wolfe Herd advocating for artificial intelligence to be employed in “the right way,” as an increasing number of people are questioning the ethical implications of AI dating apps.

Bumble appears to be aware of this controversy.  In an interview with the BBC, the company’s chief executive officer, Lidiane Jones, said, “Control and transparency are going to be a key part of how we use AI. Transparency is a primary principle of our AI product development so that users remain in control. We want people to know when AI is being used, especially if it’s for an interaction. I encourage tech leaders to drive transparency when it comes to using AI, especially with consumer experiences.”

However, what Jones and Wolfe Herd still need to address is whether companies like Bumble might intentionally or inadvertently build their AI concierges to put not only their customers but also their bottom line first. 

It certainly wouldn’t be difficult to do. Not to be overly Machiavellian or to imply anything nefarious is going on, but let’s face it: Bumble and other dating apps make money by keeping their customers looking only to lose them the moment they find their match.  

Personal, not corporate use?

If you share these concerns, a solution might be to bypass a potentially unethical AI-assisted dating app while taking advantage of the technology’s potential effectiveness in locating the person of your dreams.  

Though, one, you’ll likely still need to put your relationship pursuits into the hands of another company—but at least one without a financial stake in your dating life—and, two, this other option isn’t currently available.

But just as AI-assisted dating systems like the one Wolfe Herd spoke of are inevitable, so is the rise of other, far more independent services. 

For example, it’s not hard to imagine a next-gen personal assistant that, in addition to its many other features like planning your day, managing your workflow, or monitoring your health, would also (when asked) lend an algorithmic hand when it comes time to find someone with whom you can share your life or just have sexy fun.

True, a system like this comes with its own set of ethical issues that we’ll hopefully have worked out by then. The good news is that when we do, you won’t need to put all your dating eggs in what could be an unfortunately troublesome basket.  And you won’t have to worry that a service you pay for will be tempted to keep you single and lonely. 

Image Sources: Depositphotos

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How machine learning systems could become a dating scene staple

Conducted by Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute and sponsored by Match.com, the 13th annual Singles in America study seems to indicate United States singles are getting progressively comfortable using artificial intelligence to attempt to connect with potential partners.

Helen Fisher, Ph.D, Match.com’s chief scientific adviser, told Jenna Owsianik at Le Shaw about this rise in AI matchmaking, saying, “We are driven to find love, and this is just the next way to do the same old thing.” 

Of the 5,000 participants, a mere six percent reported employing AI to improve their dating chances.  This number is likely to change in the future as 40% were optimistic machine learning tools would improve their overall matchmaking odds.

Meanwhile, 63% of Gen Z respondents “have used AI in some capacity, dating or otherwise.” This is probably due to their familiarity/comfort with technological innovation.

Catch me a catch

For those who used AI, 34% wanted it to better sort their possible connections; 29% said they’d use the technology to make writing their profiles easier and more effective; and 30% would like a virtual hand in dreaming up some conversation starters.

The results? Actually quite impressive, with 26% disclosing their matches increased, 27% received higher quality ones, and 32% got quicker connections.

Despite these relatively high numbers, Dr. Fisher seems fairly reserved, “In the case of AI, if it helps you write a profile, terrific. Maybe it helps you come up with conversation topics. Terrific. You don’t have to use it. It’s just a helpful professor.”

Night after night in the dark I’m alone

Regarding image manipulation software, the participants were less positive, with a notable 46% saying its use—like altering a user’s photo—would be a massive dating red flag.

RECOMMENDED READ: Digital Desires and Social Media Double Standards

“That really upset them,” Fisher said, referring to the survey respondents and their disfavor. “Looks do count; they say a lot about who you are.”

In a similar vein, 39% felt negatively about the idea of chatting with what they may have thought was a flesh-and-blood person but was, in reality, a cleverly programmed chatbot.   

Look through your book

While not directly a technological issue, 40% expressed how, when younger, receiving a decidedly well-designed sexual education curriculum “Would have led them to more sexual confidence in adulthood, 30% would have learned how to date more effectively and 44% say they would have had healthier and better relationships now.”

The participants also said when they were taught, the curriculum was less than comprehensive, with 89% saying classes involved puberty, 84% on sexually transmitted infections, another 91% on reproduction, and—what is quite a telling statistic—77% promoted the long-disproven practice of abstinence.

As reported by Columbia University’s Mailman School Of Public Health, “Two scientific review papers find abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and policies in the United States are ineffective because they do not delay sexual initiation or reduce sexual risk behaviors.”

Make me a perfect match

Of all the information provided by the recent Singles in America study, arguably the most intriguing prospect for the evolution of dating is the high percentage of people who have already begun experimenting with AI-assisted dating or who look at it as a possibly favorable option in the future.

Speculating on this trend—not forgetting how dating apps have already started embracing AI systems, with limited success—we could see matchmaking platforms offering a variety of unique tools ranging from more efficient algorithms to chatbot assistants always willing to lend a hand.

On the subject of chatbots, we might be able to combine the need for improved sexual education with a supportive wingperson: a synthetic assistant for practicing our flirting skills who’d also help fill in any gaps we might have when it comes to the birds and the bees.

Further ahead, AI dating may, as we’ve previously discussed, be much more expansive than just trying to partner up with a fellow human being or two or three. Our dating possibilities could also include intimate relationships with any number of synthetic companions—some of whom might very well be the digital descendants of what began as our artificially intelligent matchmaking assistants.

Image Sources: Depositphotos

The post Find Me A Find: New Survey Reveals Singles Increasingly Open To AI Matchmaking appeared first on Future of Sex.

Understanding how compatibility systems work can play a crucial role in finding a companion

It’s pretty common knowledge current dating sites use sophisticated algorithms to aid in determining potentially good matches. With that in mind, understanding how they work might help you evaluate their efficacy and increase your chances of finding the right person 

As someone who once used mind-numbingly boring statistics to develop algorithms, let me see if I can explain what they are, how they work, and how they affect your dating odds without making your eyes cross.

A short history of dating algorithms

Florian Schroeder explains that “The use of algorithms to predict romantic success is not entirely new. Mathematical approaches to matchmaking emerged in the 1960s, when researchers began creating algorithmic compatibility models based on psychological theories of what makes relationships work.” Primitive early algorithms primarily matched people on demographics and a few interests. 

For example, Match.com began using what, at the time, were relatively primitive algorithms in 1995. Five years later, eHarmony joined in their use. 

How modern dating matchmaking works

Algorithms, at heart, consist of an equation. The solution to the equation yields a compatibility index. These equations only work with good data. The programmer and statistician mantra remains, Garbage in, garbage out.

According to Woz U, a learning platform founded by Steve Wozniak, “—dating apps also use behavioral data such as a user’s swiping and messaging patterns to refine their matchmaking algorithms.” Swiping, poking, or emailing tells the AI that a match meets your approval (or doesn’t). The app then suggests similar matches.

Supposedly, this allows the matchmaking equation to improve the more activity you engage in onsite. Linked social media provides additional data points for some equations. 

A competitor can get a jump start on their algorithm by stealing an existing algorithm, so, as Schroeder adds, “—the details of proprietary algorithms are closely guarded secrets—” In the end, all a person or organization can say is how the person thinks an equation works based on how that person would go about making matches.

Potential problems of matchmaking equations

Theoretically, the more data points in the equation, the better the match. In real life, however, computer time and computing power limit the number of data points in an equation. So, companies make educated choices about what to include.

In addition, many of the questions on your profile do not correlate strongly with matchmaking success. Having infinite data points that have nothing to do with attraction predicts no better than chance. 

According to Eli Finkel and his research partners, “No compelling evidence supports matchmaking sites’ claims that mathematical algorithms work – that they foster romantic outcomes that are superior to those fostered by other means of pairing partners.” Finkel also mentions that unquantifiable something—call it chemistry—that causes sparks and can’t be reduced to a data point.

Algorithms develop racial and other biases if not monitored closely. According to Wired Magazine, “Dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble use “collaborative filtering,” which generates recommendations based on majority opinion. Over time, those algorithms reduce human choice and marginalize certain types of profiles.” 

Jevan Huston, a researcher at Washington University, further explains, “Dating platforms have the opportunity to disrupt particular social structures, but you lose those benefits when you have design features that allow you to remove people who are different than you.”

Poor matches also happen when the number of people who match your compatibility scores hits the bottom. In my experience, some match services that advertise as matching gays and lesbians, such as eHarmony and Match.com, have such small pools to choose from in any one area that the matches perform poorly.

According to the Pew Research Center, “Roughly seven in ten online daters believe it is very common for those who use these platforms to lie to try to appear more desirable.” This false information throws the matchmaking equations off and results in poor matches. 

Now for the good news

On a positive note, the equations used by dating apps may be close enough to help find someone compatible. Even though some of the information used in dating equations may not be correlated with long-term happiness, their equations may still be effective. 

In a research study done by Liesel Sharabi, “Findings suggested that whether algorithms actually worked mattered less than whether participants had the perception that they worked for finding a partner. Moreover, participants reported better first dates to the extent that they believed in the efficacy of the compatibility matching process.” 

In the end, it’s clear dating sites and apps significantly reduce the time necessary to find everything from casual to long-term relationships.  The only question remaining is how efficient they could get with the right algorithms put in place.

Who knows, maybe in the next few years, finding an ideal partner or merely the right person for right now won’t take days, weeks, or hours but faster than we can say “swipe right”?

Image Sources: Depositphotos

The post Cracking the Code of Love: Navigating the Intricacies of Dating Algorithms appeared first on Future of Sex.