Tinder is a platform for connecting individuals who are searching for love with a simple location-based "swipe" system.
However, the profiles of each user can only provide so much information. A recent UI change could offer users a new way to find out more about other users .
Tinder recently added a number of new features to its app, including the ability to attach a user's Instagram account to their profile, reports the Los Angeles Times. Many of these users have requested this feature for months, but it wasn't until the most recent update that Tinder considered adding such a feature. This move seemed fairly natural for Tinder, since most of its userbase already preferred Instagram over Facebook or Twitter. In fact, many of these users already inserted their Instragram usernames into their account descriptions so that users can find the other on Instagram.
"We're listening to our users, our vision," said Tinder President Sean Rad. Rad hopes that the addition of this feature, among many others, will "lead to more fruitful connections among the 26 million pairings on the app each day," according to the L.A. Times.
But, as features like an Instagram link become normal among dating apps, what makes Tinder stand out?
Rad believes that a sense of user community helps his app stand out. "Tinder's users define Tinder's success, not Tinder's features. Everyone is on Tinder. The cool kids are on Tinder, so if you really want to unseat Tinder, you need to do something 10 steps better and I'll welcome that."
This isn't Tinder's only recent software change. The dating app also added the ability to pay for an adblocker, as well as a premium account. Tinder recently had a lot of success with an ad structure built into their dating app.
"The app's first ad, which featured Bud Light, came this month. Rad called it a success based on how many people watched the entire video, clicked on a link in the ad and approved of it by swiping right in the app," reports the LA Times.
While this ad did work out well, Tinder has no plans to experiment with a second ad in the near future.
