You're not the only one who spends hours swiping through dating apps. The new lawsuit claims that's by design.
Dating apps like Tinder and Hinge are intentionally addictive, a federal class-action lawsuit filed in California on Valentine's Day claims.
Hidden algorithms encourage users to stay on the app and “gamify dating,” which goes against the app's original purpose of helping people find connections and build relationships, it said. six plaintiffs state in the lawsuit.
“The truth is that the app is designed to be addictive,” the application states. “Match's business model relies on monopolizing users' attention to generate profits, and Match is gaining ground in the market by fostering dating app addiction that drives expensive subscriptions and persistent usage. We have guaranteed success.”
Match Group, which owns platforms such as Tinder, Match.com, OkCupid, Hinge and Plenty of Fish, called the lawsuit “ridiculous” and worthless.
“Our business model is not based on advertising or engagement metrics. Every day, we actively try to get people to go on dates without using an app. Anyone who says otherwise , do not understand the purpose and mission of the industry as a whole,” the company said in a statement to multiple news outlets.
Notably, the lawsuit targets Hinge's “designed to be removed” tagline. The lawsuit calls that language “false advertising” and claims the stakeholders never designed the app to be removed. They also take issue with the premium version of the platform, which is one of the company's main sources of revenue.
Psychologist and relationship coach Joe Hemmings told The Washington Post, “To be honest, this lawsuit is a little ridiculous,” adding, “The onus is on the user, not the app or the developer. ” he added.
“Like any app, it's a business and exists to make money,” Hemmings said, adding that this is standard business practice to attract and retain users.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from people who used paid versions of Tinder, Hinge and other Match Group apps over the past four years. They also want to add warnings about the risks of addiction and for Hinge to remove the slogan “Designed to be removed.”
