Attempting to draw in the more socially hesitant and chronically online Gen Zers, Tinder has launched its new “Double Date” feature. According to Tinder Newsroom, the new feature allows users to organise double dates online, transforming “the Swipe experience” into a “lighthearted adventure you can enjoy alongside a friend.”
In today’s dating pool (more like a piranha-infested lake), a little help from friends can go a long way, so here’s what we know so far about the new Tinder Double Date feature that could revolutionise your love life.
What is the Double Date feature and how does it work?
@tinder be delulu together
try tinder double date to match and chat as a pair with your bff
Double Date is a free feature that allows users to sync their dating profiles with up to three friends. This feature is visible on people’s profiles while swiping, appearing in a side-by-side view.
If a user swipes right on a pair and matches, they will be taken to a group chatroom with all synced participants. Only one person in a pair or group needs to swipe right on another pair for a match to be formed.
@selahmolden Wish us good luck! (and consider this your sign to try tinder double date) #tinderpartner @Tinder
The chatroom also allows for users to swipe right on individual profiles within the group if a particular person tickles their fancy. This will open a direct message thread in which participants can talk privately.
To activate the feature, users should turn on the Double Date function visible on the Discovery or Messages page.
Why has it been introduced?
@lancealot_c
The function is supposed to dispel the nerves and awkwardness many young people associate with online dating by making it more of a team sport in a world where dating often feels like a high-stakes game of chance.
Speaking to Cosmopolitan, dating expert Devyn Simone explained that “Gen Z isn’t shy about being, well, a little shy.” This isn’t surprising in a post-pandemic era which saw everyone become more reclusive and dependent on online platforms to interact.
Yet just because the world increased its online dependency doesn’t mean that Gen Z isn’t desperate for some organic, in-person meet ups.
A group date scenario injects a bit of energy into a process which can often feel like an audition for a role you don’t even know you want yet. Bringing your besties to a date also lowers the stakes and makes it feel more social than one to one conversations.
So is it going to help ‘you and bro take all the girls?’
@ludomanian1 Looks are everything #looksmaxing #mogging #mog #handsome #looks #lookism
The feature has been finding success amongst young people, with 90 per cent of Double Date profiles on the app belonging to people under 29. What’s more is that users sent 35 per cent more messages in Double Date chats than in individual ones according to internal Tinder testing data.
This trend is likely because users already feel comfortable talking to their friends, making them feel more at ease in the conversation and allowing for organic discussion. No wonder women are three times more likely to swipe right on a Double Date profile than a single one (anything to escape the generic “hey x” and “wyd” chats…)
One woman on TikTok said that the feature is the “best thing that’s ever happened” to the app. Men are also thrilled with the new development, with one TikTok user saying that summer is going to be “active” with all the possibilities for double dates.
@livvinflicks I get to roast men WITH my bestie?? @Tinder good job #tinder #datingapps #doubledate #funny
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Out of its estimated 50 million users, Gen Z makes up approximately half of Tinder’s global user base so it’s unsurprising they are introducing more features to keep young people engaged and happy.
Another feature added to increase customer satisfaction and safety on the app was the “share my date” function which saw users sharing the time and place of their date with family and friends.
The new Double Date feature also slots in well with the recent “gameification” of many apps that has seen platforms integrate game elements into non-game contexts.
Adding your buddies to your dating profile makes the experience seem like a game, an exciting Love Island-esque challenge to tackle together.
@haileykate22 this is actually so fun thank you
thank you for putting bombshells in my villa @Tinder
This was a goal already in the works for Tinder, as they introduced the Matchmaker feature in 2023 that allowed friends to weigh in on the suitability of a potential match like they were voting for couples on a dating show.
What does this mean for the future dating landscape?
With fewer numbers of people opting to get married, the future of dating seems to be less focussed on desperately finding romantic connections than it is on just creating fun stories to tell your friends about.
Yet this changing focus of dating may actually be a positive for relationship seekers. Approaching dating in a more lighthearted and silly way may allow for more organic connections to form as people actually enjoy the experience outside of the pressure to “find the one” immediately.
Either way, Double Date is sure to keep all the friends group chats buzzing with juicy stories. As Tinder says of its new feature, “with Double Date, the post-date recap doesn’t have to wait—it starts as soon as the date ends.”
Featured image via Canva
