It looks like Tinder will be adding a video chat option on the platform rather soon. Set to debut in June, Tinder hopes that this feature will help boost the app’s popularity even further. The video chat option will probably be limited to a one-on-one chat. The apps parent company Match Group confirmed the same on Tuesday, May 5. Due to the forced lockdown because of the Coronavirus, Tinder has seen a significant drop in users and is looking to bounce back in a big way. Social distancing norms have also hit the app hard. This essentially led to the idea of the video chat coming to fruition.
The addition of a video chat on Tinder could very well change the way people interact on the platform. As of now, the only way to communicate with someone on Tinder is through text messaging, but clearly that is going to change soon enough. The video chat option also gives people the option to actually see if the person they matched with is actually who they say they are. This could go a long way when it comes to safety and such.
In a statement released by Match Group, the company said, “Social distancing has required adaptations and pivots and has impacted our business because the manner in which singles engage with our products and start relationships has quickly evolved. We know that singles are adjusting their behaviours, and many are shifting to having dates virtually via phone or video. Female usage and engagement is a key driver for a dating product's success and we are constantly trying to improve these metrics.”
Tinder has also released Tinder Passport that allowed users to connect with potential matches across the world, which goes really well with the video chat feature. The app has also added t panic button and photo verification to help users feel much safer.