Why meet one random guy in Wetherspoons with your WhatsApp open incase a catfish/murderer scenario arises, when you could avoid this by going with a few of your mates to meet another group of single and/or bored people?
Tinder Social, the newest addition to the dating app (launching globally soon, but currently being tested in Australia) adds a few of your mates and a group to match with, to encourage a more social, less awkward side of Tinder.
Here's how it works: you swipe on ‘group mode’ with your friends, and when you have a match, creates a conversation with everyone. You can then all chat about where you’re headed for the night and get to know everyone before you all meet. This obviously eliminates a lot of the awkwardness inevitable on a first date; everyone is more comfortable around their friends and you have a few wingmen to bring up your redeeming qualities if you’re a bit drunk from nerves and think your dad dancing is appropriate for other human’s eyes.
There’s also the option to create a separate conversation with one person from the chat if the group date creates some meaningful (lol) connections, which does break the ice for a second date which, it has to be said, is further than most Tinder matches usually go.
This new feature isn’t entirely aimed at creating ’dates’, Tinder Social could also help your group hang out with new people in new places- handy for people in new cities, wanting to explore and meet more people, or even groups who want to discover more from those who might know about hidden gems in the city they already know.
In a blog post, Tinder say they have ‘always been about making you more social in the real world, not the digital world, so try our new product, get off your phone, meet more people and be more Social.’ While encouraging meeting new people and exploring new things is obviously a good thing, this does hint at the possibility of a few cock-blocks, third wheels, one person catching more than one persons eye, jealousy over that ‘hot friend’ we all have taking all the attention, maybe even a bit of ‘swapping around’. So basically like Gossip Girl but less headbands and more boys who all seem to be called Joe and all seem to be trap DJs.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.