Tinder
Digital environment
What is Digital environment ?
Apps and environments young people use
Type of digital environment:
- Dating apps
Age restriction: 18
Tinder is an online dating app that allows users to match with other people.
Risks and motivations
Risks
Young people who use Tinder may be exposed to digital risk factors around romantic relationships and tech.
Young people using Tinder may also experience abusive relationships.
Motivations
Young people might use Tinder to:
- build relationships and networks
- build confidence
- have fun
Young people’s voice
How young people engage with the environment
Isla joined Tinder when she was 17 to try to meet someone. She’d never had a boyfriend but would’ve liked one – her friends all had one and she thought it would be “nice”. It would also have been a “nice ego boost” and said that it was “exciting” when men chatted to her and said she’s pretty. She said her Tinder profile was very true to her. It gave her general location, and her favourite song. The photos were all of her because she’s “not a catfish”, but she’d intentionally chosen ones where she’s wearing “nice clothes” and make up, because she wanted to look her best. She liked going to gigs, so had included photos of her at those too. Some of her matches had instigated moving the conversation to Snapchat. Isla didn’t mind this as it’s easier to verify who they were on Snapchat. But, she’d 'unmatch' them if that was the first thing they’d said, as she assumed that usually meant they wanted to send nude images to her, which Isla did not want. Sometimes matches would ask “dodgy” questions straightaway, like “what are you wearing?” or “want to get into bed?”. When that happened she either changed the subject, ignored them, or unmatched them. She didn’t meet anyone in person from Tinder, and felt she “hasn’t had much luck” on it. She didn’t realise before she signed up that so many people use it just for “hook-ups” and so feels disillusioned by it and uses it less now. She thinks she would rather meet someone in real life, as it’s more natural.
Understanding online communications among children: Qualitative findings, Ofcom, 2023
What you can do
How to report content in this environment
How to close an account in this environment
![](https://online-risk-guide.barnardos.org.uk/transforms/_540xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/3239/GettyImages-1405778995-1.webp)
Share your experience of Tinder
You can tell us about:
- other terms you might have heard
- conversations you’ve had with young people
- a related platform or app
- another related risk or harm