If the dating world seems as terrifying as a corn maze in the dark, Tinder might be making it a little easier to separate the scary good from the just plain scary. The dating app is adding a new feature to ensure the safety of its users by allowing them to run background checks before they go on a date with a match.
The company issued a statement on Wednesday announcing the partnership between its parent company Match Group and Garbo, a non-profit that provides background checks at a cost of just $2.50 per search. Tinder is offering two free background check searches to its users, with a total of 500,000 free searches available.
Garbo was founded by Kathryn Kosmides and searches for a person's public records, including arrest, conviction, and sex offender registration.
"Garbo seeks to democratize access to public safety information, which has traditionally been cost-prohibitive and difficult to obtain, and empowers people to make more informed decisions about who they interact with in real life," Tinder said in the statement.
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Kosmides explained Garbo's mission to help prevent sexual abuse and provide users with valuable and protective information.
"We know that the biggest indicator of future abuse or violence is a history of these types of behaviors. Whether it’s online dating or the dozens of other ways we meet strangers in today’s digital age, we should know if we’re potentially putting our safety at risk," Kosmides said. "We want to protect those most vulnerable to experiencing harm both online and offline and this is just the first step in delivering on our mission to help proactively prevent harm in the digital age."
The platform excludes certain offenses such as drug possession and loitering, and also excludes returning additional personal information such as a phone number or home address.
Here's how Tinder user can access Garbo: first, look for the blue shield on the app, click it, then go to the Safety Center. There, find the Garbo article in the tools section, and tap on it. You'll be taken to the Garbo website to follow further instructions, usually the only information they need to do the background check is a first name and phone number.
If you happen to match with someone that ends up having a history of violence or other dangerous crimes, Tinder encourages you to report them, and they could be banned from the platform after an investigation.
"For far too long women and traditionally marginalized groups have faced many barriers to resources and safety," Tracey Breeden, Head of Safety and Social Advocacy at Match Group, said in the statement. "Garbo’s thoughtful and innovative consumer background checks will drive the industry forward while empowering people with critical information to help inform personal safety choices."
Additionally. Match Group announced a partnership with the National Domestic Violence Hotline to give users around the clock service to access resources and information, including a live chat option with an advocate through Garbo.
Even with the new ability to run a background check on a match, Tinder reiterated the importance of being cautious when meeting someone new in real life for the first time.
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