Tinder Select - A Private Dating Haven for Tinder's Elite
 |
| CNBC |
Now, there's even a private Tinder, intended to only be used by the most 'successful' Tinder users. In my mind, the most successful user of a dating app is surely someone who doesn't need to be on it anymore - someone who has found a partner. According to Tinder, the most 'successful' users are actually famous people, models, CEOs, movers and shakers and other members of the wealthy elite. These are the people Tinder has invited to join Select. Very classy.
Rather than allowing registered members to then bring other people in, Tinder preside entirely over who gets to be on Tinder Select, which obviously prevents the membership from ballooning, but also raises some questions about how exactly Tinder are judging who is worthy of inclusion. It seems like they're going after people who could be regarded as conventionally attractive, which is kind of creepy when you think about it. It's like if hotornot.com was a dictatorship.
Judging from the pictures TechCrunch got ahold of, Select has a much prettier interface than the main app, and users can switch back and forth between standard Tinder and Select as they please. Given that the service has been active for at least six months, and no announcements were ever made, it's a fair bet that Tinder didn't really ever expect/want the wider user base to know that it even existed.
One reason for this (besides the obvious elitism) is the notion that the Tinder 'Elo score' might contribute to who does and doesn't get added to Select. The Elo score is the rating which helps the app decide which users you're shown when you're swiping, but it also ranks users. The Elo score has been described as a measure 'desirability', and it works like this - the more you're swiped right, the more your rating goes up, and people with higher ratings then have a greater impact on your score. Basically, if someone super hot swipes right on you, you get hotter. Grim, innit?
Tinder isn't the only service to use a system like this, but despite everything they might say in the name of self-preservation, no other app relies so heavily on attractiveness to function properly. They're not the only app to have a private version either, but other services do this for somewhat different reasons. Bumble, ever the better example of how dating apps should work, has ViBee, a verification-based extra layer which rewards good behaviour, like how many conversations you initiate and maintain.
The cynicism fuelling Tinder has never been a secret, but even by that standard Select just seems like a very bad business decision. Even if they never expected the broader user base to find out it existed, the risk of seeming like you value more famous/attractive users over everyone else far outweighs any benefits that Select might offer. From Tinder's end, I'm struggling to come up with any. Maybe the staff are just trying to hook up with supermodels, nothing would shock me at this point.
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @Songbird_Callum
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
Tinder Select - A Private Dating Haven for Tinder's Elite
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, March 09, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, March 09, 2017
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.