Dating apps: swiping right should be made safer
Right now, 7 in 10 people who use dating apps have reported being subjected to online sexual violence and abuse on the platforms. With over 3 million users in Australia dating apps present threats to women’s safety and wellbeing both online and in-person.
There are significant issues with the safety of these platforms:
- Around half of survivors who experienced in-person sexual violence saying they were unable to report their abuser as they had been unmatched or the profile had been deleted.
- Of the people who had experience online harassment, 40.9% of them said they had been sent a sexual image they did not ask for.
Companies such as Match Group, that own Tinder and Hinge, could be taking action to address these issues by implementing ‘Safety by Design’ technology. This needs to include options to report even if you have been unmatched, safeguards to prevent image based abuse, and so much more.
These companies profit off people using their service to seek connection. But together, we can use our power to demand they step up their safety and wellbeing protections.
Can you sign your support to make dating apps safer for everyone who uses them?