Tinder Will Now Ask People To Reconsider Sending Offensive Messages In-App

Tinder will be giving users a chance to reconsider sending their message if the app flags it as abusive.

Credit: Yogas Design on Unsplash

The company rolled out a first-of-its-kind feature called “Are you Sure?” (AYS?), which is meant to reduce the amount of harassment that happens in the dating app. Additionally, the feature, which has already been launched on 20 May 2021, joins Tinder’s other harm reduction tools such as “Does This Bother you?”.

“AYS?” serves as Tinder’s real-time warning system that uses its artificial intelligence to detect harmful languages in messages. It is also programmed to proactively intervene on behalf of an abusive message’s recipient to warn the sender that what they intend to send may be offensive.

A screenshot of what the AYS? prompt looks like. Credit: Tinder

To prove the feature’s reliability, Tinder said that during early testing, it saw a decrease of inappropriate language in messages by more than 10% while Tinder users who saw the prompt was less likely to be reported for inappropriate messages over the next month. Newcomers to the app are expected to have a safer and more comfortable experience using it thanks to the new “AYS?” feature.

Tracey Breeden, Head of Safety and Social Advocacy for Match Group, said that early results show that when done the right way, “intervention can be really meaningful in changing behaviour and building a community where everyone feels like they can be themselves”. RAIIN President Scott Berkowitz shared Breeden’s sentiments and has expressed his excitement for the feature’s release.

RAINN is the United States’ largest anti-sexual violence organisation which created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline.

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Written by John Paul Joaquin