A prominent billboard that was put up in Los Angeles by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has triggered a cease and desist letter from Tinder, which states that the billboard draws a very clear link between dating apps and the growing rate of sexually transmitted diseases.
While the AHF says that the billboard's purpose is to raise awareness about the increasing STD rate and to encourage dating-app users to get regular screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, Tinder says that the design of the billboard, which features silhouettes of people and the words "Tinder, Chlamydia, Grindr, Gonorrhea," are sending the wrong message, reported The Los Angeles Times.
"These unprovoked and wholly unsubstantiated accusations are made to irreparably damage Tinder's reputation. While Tinder strongly supports such testing, the billboard's statements are not founded upon any scientific evidence and are incapable of withstanding critical analysis," the cease and desist order stated, according to CNN Money.
Grindr, on the other hand, has not pursued legal action against the AHF, though the popular gay dating app has also voiced its disagreements over the AHF's presentation of the billboard.
"We were surprised at the approach [the foundation] took, and paused the campaign in order to speak with them and assess our relationship," Grindr said in a statement.
"As one of the world's largest gay platforms, we take this issue very seriously. At the end of the day, we are all on the same side in this issue, and strive to work with our partners and advocacy groups to achieve similar goals. A more connected and informed gay community is a better thing for us all."
The AHF, however, has stated that it will not remove the billboard, referencing a previous study published in Vanity Fair that attributed a boom in casual hookups to the emerging popularity of dating apps like Tinder and Grindr.
Check out news about dating apps here.
