Beginning Monday, singles looking to connect with someone during this period of self-isolation can beginning swiping all over the globe.
In a press release, the dating app announced that it would waive the premium membership costs for the feature through April 30. While traditionally the feature is reserved Tinder Plus and Gold members, the app acknowledges that having someone to chat with can make self-quarantining all the more bareable.
"In these trying times, while we all know we need to stay home, this doesn't mean we have to be alone with our thoughts. Having someone to talk to can make a world of difference," the company said in the press release. "And that's why we decided that starting next week we'll make our Passport feature, free to everyone, everywhere through April 30th. "
While so many people are self-quarantining, it can be hard to check in on potential partners in places they may not traditionally visit like their hometowns, college town or sister city, as the company suggests. For those looking to explore the globe after travel restrictions are lifted and we can cease social distancing, the app encourages users to check in on users all over the world. "If nothing else, you can learn how to say "hey" in another language," the company wrote in a statement.
For those looking to swipe around the world, you can change your location by tapping location in your app's settings. Users can only swipe in one city at a time.
The feature being made widely available for Tinder users is sure to spark lots of new conversation. In another press release, the app divulged that as areas become more isolated, new conversations spring up and tend to last longer. Tinder users are also swapping empathy for coolness, updating their bios to check ins like "how is everyone" instead of a silly catchphrase or their height.
While Tinder seeks to connect users globally during this trying time, other apps and dating services have pivoted toward virtual dates and video dating. Singles-event planning service Here/Now moved its lively mixers online, and the ethically non-monogamous focused app encouraged people to practice better communication by not meeting new partners during this time, instead opting for phone calls and video chats.
Tinder wasn't the only app to introduce new features for singles during social distancing. On Thursday, Plenty of Fish rolled out a new feature that allows users to live-stream for free.
"As a dating app, our business is in a unique position to innovate quickly to combat the anxiety singles may be feeling right now. I'm excited to offer this free feature to our members in the hopes it allows people to have fun and build meaningful relationships virtually, while face-to-face interaction is temporarily limited," Plenty of Fish CEO Malgosia Green said in a statement.
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