Those banking on Tinder to find true love just got some help courtesy of Tinder's move to pull in Instagram data of potential suitors and so users can make a more informed swiping decision.
The dating app says the goal is to help Tinder users know more about a potential match than just looks and to help ignite a conversation between two interested Tinder members.
"It will help you better understand who the person is that you're talking to," said Tinder Co-founder and President Sean Rad. "When you're able to assess the degrees of separation between you and an individual it adds a lot of value in the form of context, trust and everything."
The move comes as online dating sites and dating apps are striving to grow user base and drive deeper user loyalty. Tinder users are shown photos of potential matches and if interested they swipe 'right' to show interest and swipe left to move on to the next potential suitor.
Now, with the integration of Instagram, an app where users can express interests and activities through photos, Tinder users who do the swipe right will get some deeper insight than just physical appearance. Tinder profiles that have Instagram accounts will provide the most recent 34 images. Rad says it's also about providing "second-degree connections" and helping users determine if they have mutual friends in common.
In addition to pulling Instagram into the app Tinder is also refreshing the app to include an 'interests' section and the new profile feature will be available to both free and paid subscribers. Tinder is also allowing Facebook interests to be pulled into the user profile.
"This is the first of many steps to take the recommendations engine to the next level and help you assess the person you're matching with and start those conversations," said Rad. "If we can provide our users with more relevant information for each connection, we can take them halfway there in terms of getting a conversation going."
Coming up soon is a Tinder app for the newly debuted Apple wearable, the Watch, Rad added.
The Instagram integration comes on the heels of Tinder's new Tinder Plus service offerings, which is ad free, and lets users have access to premium features like PassPort and Rewind. Rewind is already being positively embraced as it lets users undo a swipe left, essentially, for a second review of a potential match.
