Match group-owned dating apps, including Match, Tinder, and over 45 more, will soon be offering the option for its users to run background checks on potential dates in a move aimed at making online dating safer.
Safety move: Some dating apps will allow you to background check potential dates first
One problem that plagues online dating is the fact that your decision is based on a photo and bio. How much do you really know about that person other than what they are telling the world about themselves? But all this is about to change.
The company announced a future rollout of a service that will allow users on all of its sites and apps to run background checks to vet potential dates.
The feature will be added to its most popular app first: Tinder.
All that users will need to perform a background check will be a first name and phone number or a full name, the Verge reported.
What kind of background checks will be available?
Users will be able to perform a background check that will provide details such as an arrest record or a history of violence.
Garbo, the company providing the background checks to the Match Group, said that it collects “public records and reports of violence or abuse, including arrests, convictions, restraining orders, harassment, and other violent crimes.” On its website, Garbo also says that it accepts manual submissions of “police report(s), order(s) of protection / restraining orders, and other legal documents that report abuse, harassment, or other crimes.” However, for full disclosure, the manual function isn’t currently live.
Drug offenses will not be listed in background checks
Last month, Garbo posted on its company blog that it will not list drug possession charges in its background checks in order to assure an “active stance toward equity.” The company cited research alleging the rates of arrests on drug charges for Black people were 6 times higher compared to White people. Further, the company alleges that drug-related offenses aren’t necessarily a meaningful prediction of “gender-based violence.”
Garbo also stated it’s background checks will not include traffic tickets, except for DUIs and vehicle manslaughter, again citing a disproportionate traffic stops on Blacks versus Whites.
What dating sites/apps are owned by Match Group?
The Match Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, owns Tinder, Match.com, Meetic, OkCupid, Hinge, PlentyOfFish, Ship, and OurTime to name a few, and include over 45 global dating companies, according to Wikipedia.
Match Group invested in background check company
The Match Group recently made an investment in the nonprofit company Garbo, which allows people to run background checks using only a first name and phone number or a full name. With this acquisition, the background checks will eventually be added to all of the Match Group sites.
Background checks will not be a free feature, and currently Match Group is reportedly negotiating with Garbo to reach a price point which would make the feature accessible to most users.
