Tinder helped popularize today’s appearance-first dating culture, and now the app is testing a new way to capitalize on it. As part of the test, select Tinder Gold and Tinder Platinum subscribers will be able to set a height preference for the matches they receive on the app, TechCrunch reports. The feature was first s potted by a Reddit user who spotted the option in the app’s “Search Settings.”
Deciding that you prefer couples who are 5’9” and taller won’t necessarily weed out the short-statured kings in your area, but it will affect the recommendations the app offers when you’re swiping. Tinder has long included ways to indicate your preferences in your profile, and many people go further in their bio to signal that they’re only swiping right on people with certain facial features or interests. Including a height preference in the official settings simply formalizes things.
But given that dating apps are already associated with superficiality, this feature seems like it should be a bit of a tease. It could also be a reflection of how Tinder approaches its paid subscriptions in the future: not just as a way to expand the reach of your dating profile, but also as a formal way to exercise granular control over who you meet.
“This is part of a broader effort to help people connect more purposefully on Tinder.” “Our new product principles guide every decision, and this one directly addresses a few of them: prioritizing user results, being fast, and learning quickly,” Tinder’s VP of communications Phil Price Frye tells Engadget. “Not every test becomes a permanent feature, but every test helps us learn how we can deliver smarter, more relevant experiences and move the category forward.”
