Ms. Leupold, you wanted to talk to us about Tinder, your employer.

Is it about the crisis of online dating?

Elena Witzeck

Editor in the Feuilleton.

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What crisis?

In the pandemic, we were the ones who provided help from the start.

Tinder is one of the world's most important platforms that have brought people together during this time.

However, two-thirds of singles are said to suffer from “swipe fatigue”.

That means they're fed up with constantly swiping date candidates on their phone screens.

With this mechanism something completely new was developed at the time.

Swipe left for "Not my thing", swipe right for "I'm interested", nobody else had that!

It is understandable that this can also lead to fatigue.

You know it, maybe you've logged out five or six times - and then you create a new profile.

Of course, one wonders whether it will finally work now.

That's human.

Here we are at one of the most existential places in life.

There may have been more chatting since Corona, but the behavior of the digital flirt leaves a lot to be desired.

Cases of outbursts of anger from those who don't get an immediate response to their promotional messages are increasing.

A deep sensitivity becomes visible.

Your competition has recognized these tendencies and is now advertising on big screens with slogans like: "Let's make dating better again." This also works against Tinder.

Our core target group at Tinder is Generation Z, i.e. young people between the ages of 18 and 25. They are in a phase of life when it is not yet necessary to find a partner for life.

You can, but you don't have to.

This generation has demands.

She expects authenticity and honesty.

She wants people to show themselves for who they really are.

Reality also means that conversations constantly ebb.

Nobody really tries anymore.

With "ghosting", suddenly disappearing without explanation and "benching", putting off possible dates while chatting in the expectation of better candidates, the neuroses of the platforms are already entering our language.

Ghosting is just uneducated.

But that would be the same in a real first encounter.

Of course, when it comes to online dating, it's particularly easy to slip away.

We care a lot about the safety of our members, so we have introduced a new reporting system.

Previously connected, i.e. matched, users can no longer just disappear like that.

Anyone who has resolved a match can still be found in the future - a safeguard.

How does all this relate to the pandemic?

We were already working on this update before the pandemic.

While I'm not a psychologist, I do believe that lockdown frustration, irritability and disengagement from social communication may have played a part.

I don't know when you last opened Tinder...

Yesterday!

For research purposes.

Then you had a different Tinder in front of you than five years ago.

Last year we introduced our biggest update since the company was founded: the Explore section, a place to connect based on your interests.

And we have expanded the profile of our users: You can now upload videos, link to other platforms and, for example, have your favorite songs played on Spotify.

The ways of presenting oneself have become more diverse.

This is exactly what Generation Z demands.

That's all well and good, but when you sign up, you only ask for a picture, age, name, and five preferences.

There you can then choose between German rap, baking, climate protection and Netflix.

At least there are a few questions asked on Bumble and OkCupid.

The idea of ​​Tinder is the idea of ​​filter-free dating.

You can't enter with us: I want a man who is this and that tall, with the following profession and this zodiac sign.

It's supposed to be like at the bar, you stand there and look left and right, without filter glasses, you have to be open minded.

But as I said, you can now assign yourself to certain interest groups.

Do I want to find love or just friends?

Do I want to meet someone to go jogging?

"Explore" is like an experience center.