Tinder, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish owners know sexual predators are using their apps
Some of the most popular dating apps in the world are harboring sexual predators, and their leaders are fully aware.
When users sign up for Match.com's premium paid dating service, they're subjected to a background check that compares their name to state sex offender registries, BuzzFeed News, ProPublica, and Columbia Journalism Investigations report. But Match's parent company Match Group doesn't take those same steps on the free services it owns — OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, and Tinder — and admitted through a spokesperson that "there are definitely registered sex offenders on our free products."
Match Group has been well aware of this problem since at least 2011, when Carole Markin sued it for connecting her with a "six-time convicted rapist who, she told police, had raped her on their second date," BuzzFeed News writes. After a settlement, Match Group assured its site was "checking subscribers against state and national sex offender registries," and told then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris the next year it would implement "a rapid abuse reporting system."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Match, the group's flagship dating service, did follow up on the screening promise, at least for its paying users. But a Columbia Journalism Investigations analysis of more than 150 incidents of sexual assault involving dating apps found most victims were women, and most connected with their attackers via Match Group's entities. And while only a handful of those incidents involved registered sex offenders, none of the victims in those cases used Match's paid screening service.
Match Group declined to make any executives available for interviews, and said in a statement that "a relatively small amount of the tens of millions of people using one of our dating services have fallen victim to criminal activity by predators." Read more at BuzzFeed News.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Playful goslings, an exploding snowman, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
What is rock flour and how can it help to fight climate change?
The Explainer Glacier dust to the rescue
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 19, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published