Tinder and Hinge Dating Apps Accused of Addiction in Lawsuit
A proposed class-action lawsuit claims that dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge are designed to addict users and exploit them for financial gain.
Addictive Design and False Claims
According to a proposed class-action lawsuit filed on Valentine's Day, Match Group-owned dating apps like Tinder and Hinge are accused of using hidden algorithms to addict users and keep them engaged in a continuous pay-to-play loop.
These apps claim to help people find offline relationships, with Hinge marketing itself as an app 'designed to be deleted'. However, the plaintiffs allege that the platforms violate consumer protection laws and deliberately encourage addiction to increase revenue.
Users are enticed to continuously upgrade their subscriptions and pay for bonus features that supposedly enhance their chances of finding love, but the true motive is to boost the company's profits.
Dopamine Manipulation and Revenue Generation
The lawsuit argues that these dating apps are dopamine-manipulating products that gamify romance and operate on a secret algorithm that promotes compulsive usage. The plaintiffs' claim is that addiction directly correlates with increased earnings for the company.
Match Group, the parent company, dismisses the lawsuit as 'ridiculous' and denies any responsibility for addictive design. They assert that their business model is focused on facilitating real-life dates and removing users from their apps.
However, Match Group's SEC filing reveals that 98% of their revenue comes from user subscriptions and in-app purchases, indicating a misalignment with their marketed purpose.
Dark Patterns and the FTC
The plaintiffs also accuse Match Group of employing 'dark patterns' in their app design. Dark patterns are web design features intended to deceive users into making unintended purchases or subscriptions.
This deceptive practice has previously attracted scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as seen in the case of Vonage. The FTC ordered Vonage to refund customers for charging hidden fees and using dark patterns to prevent service cancellation.
The proliferation of addictive tech features on social media apps, including those owned by Meta (Instagram and Facebook), has also drawn attention for exacerbating mental health issues among young users.
