Tinder just swiped left on everyone under the age of 18

By Saqib Shah Published June 9, 2016

Tinder has officially decided to put an 18 and above age rating on its app. Believe it or not, since its launch in 2012, users as young as 13 could hop on the dating service as long as they had a Facebook account.

Tinder made sure that its youngest members, aged 13-17, could only match with users of a similar age bracket.

Recommended Videos

That’s all about to change, according to a statement from the company, which states that it has decided to change its age policy after months of consideration, reports TechCrunch.

“On a platform that has facilitated over 11 billion connections, we have the responsibility of constantly assessing our different user experiences,” read the announcement from Tinder’s VP of communications, Rosette Pambakian. “Consistent with this responsibility, we have decided to discontinue service for under 18 users. We believe this is the best policy moving forward. This change will take effect next week.”

Tinder claims that the changes will affect less than 3 percent of its entire user base of 100 million. Its growing popularity has led to more scrutiny over its approach to sexual health awareness, safety, and diversity. As a result, the app has rolled out a number of changes, with more on the way.

Earlier this year, Tinder added a health and safety section to its website, including a link to Healthvana’s free HIV and STD testing site locator, following pressure from the Aids Healthcare Foundation. The company’s CEO also recently promised to add transgender options to the dating service, claiming that it is “the right thing to do for the world.”

Additionally, in April, the app began testing a group meetup feature in Australia in an effort to unlock the social potential of the platform. The fact that the app now boasts 1 million paying subscribers could also be the rationale behind its decision to refine what is already a lucrative product.

Former Contributor

Saqib Shah is a Twitter addict and film fan with an obsessive interest in pop culture trends. In his spare time he can be…

Topics

Phones

Apple’s new Upgrade program launches on Tuesday with major changes

Apple's new leasing program might drop AppleCare coverage from the bundle.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Buying your next Apple device could soon look like leasing a car. Apple is launching its new Apple Upgrade program on Tuesday, July 28, replacing new enrollments in the long-running iPhone Upgrade Program with a lease-based option that covers iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches.

Backed by Klarna, the program is designed to lower the upfront cost of Apple's premium devices, but it is also raising questions about whether you'll actually own what you're paying for.

Phones

Setting up your dorm desk? These are the phone stands I’d actually spend my money on

From a $2 folding stand to a three-in-one Apple charging dock, these are the phone stands worth setting up this semester.

Analog Clock, Clock, Electronics

A phone stand is one of the smallest purchases on any back-to-school list, but it's also one of the easiest to get wrong, especially since there are dozens of options available on Amazon. A good phone stand is one that does its job well and, more importantly, doesn't put much of a dent in your budget.

This is one of those product categories where you don’t need to spend big, unless a MagSafe dock or a multi-device charging stand is genuinely useful for your desk or dorm setup. That is why this list begins with the most affordable options and works its way up to the more expensive ones. From a two-pack that costs about as much as a coffee to a three-in-one Apple charging station, I picked eight of Amazon's best-reviewed phone stands worth considering this back-to-school season.

Phones

I picked four wireless chargers so you can stop making your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch fight over one dorm outlet

The best back-to-school wireless chargers for dorm desks, study spaces, and travel

Computer, Electronics, Laptop

A dorm-room desk can disappear surprisingly quickly beneath a laptop charger, phone cable, Apple Watch puck, and the growing collection of adapters required to power them all. Add textbooks and other academic materials, and finding enough room to study becomes the first assignment of the semester.

A wireless charging stand can consolidate several of those cables into one station. It also gives your phone a dedicated place to sit, which helps when you are checking the time or watching a lecture. Every charger here still needs one connection to the wall. So finding a peripheral that works with all of your gadgets isn't just convenient, it's smart. I picked four models ranging from an inexpensive two-device stand to a fast 25W wireless charger capable of powering an entire Apple setup.