Every aspect of life in today’s digital world is dictated by algorithms and online dating apps are no exception. However, those willing to fork over the cash might be able to get an edge in finding the love of their lives.
Tinder has announced that they are rolling out an ultra-premium membership tier called “Tinder Select,” a $499 per month subscription that will give its members special perks and privileges, such as the ability to be seen by more users and the ability to direct message others without matching.
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Users who wish to apply for this program must be photo-verified and have at least four photos, five interests, a bio with a minimum of 15 characters, as well as having declared intent of getting into a relationship on their profiles.
The popular dating app already offers three lower-priced membership subscription tiers that give experience-enhancing perks such as unlimited likes and the ability to see who likes your profile, however, the selling point for this exhaustingly expensive membership is its exclusivity. According to Tinder, less than one percent of its most frequent users will be granted the ability to subscribe to this membership.
“We know that there is a subset of highly engaged and active users who prioritize more effective and efficient ways to find connections,” said Tinder Chief Product Officer Mark Van Ryswyk to Bloomberg, “We engaged in extensive tests and feedback with this audience over the past several months to develop a completely new offering.”
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This kind of experiment is nothing new for Tinder’s parent company Match Group (MTCH) -), which also owns other popular dating platforms like Plenty of Fish and Hinge. In July 2022, they acquired the high-end dating app, The League, which charges its users up to $1,000 to match with “ambitious, career-oriented singles.” Van Ryswyk noted in Tinder’s recent second quarter earnings report that The League’s acquisition indicated there was a market for daters who were willing to pay for quality matches and experiences.
Though there is a market, there are limitations to the supposed “super abilities” granted to Tinder Select users to keep order and not damage other user’s experiences. Tinder says that the ability to direct message people they are not matched with can only be done up to two times a week, and that non-select users can opt out of receiving such DMs.
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