In an effort to appeal to younger users as engagement numbers decline, Tinder has introduced a new “Double Date” feature, allowing people to pair up with their friends and engage with their potential matches in a group setting.
This new feature, Double Date, lets two users team up, allowing them to view and match with another pair whose individual profiles match with their dating preferences—such as gender and sexual orientation. When one person in the pair matches with someone from another pair, it activates a four-way group chat. Once in the chat, users can opt to “like” individual profiles, giving them the option to pursue private, one-on-one conversations if they wish. Each user can invite up to three friends to explore this new dating format together.
Tinder says the Double Date feature is specifically designed to alleviate the anxiety and social pressures often associated with solo online dating. Early user feedback during the testing phase indicated improved comfort in social interactions, leading to more authentic conversations and deeper engagement.
Cleo Long, Tinder’s head of product marketing, stated that initial tests were highly encouraging. “Our early testers often reported feeling more relaxed and authentic when connecting alongside a friend,” Long said. “The group chat format breaks the pressure of one-on-one conversations and helps pave the way for casual meetups, whether those relationships blossom into friendships, romance, or any combination of the two.”
The launch follows a challenging time for Match Group, Tinder’s parent company, which recently reported a 5% drop in paying subscribers across its entire suite of dating platforms, declining to 14.2 million in the most recent quarter. The company is hopeful that introducing creative social features like Double Date will help attract new users and bring back former ones. Indeed, during the testing period, approximately 12% of those who used the Double Date feature were new or returning users.
Internal data shared by Tinder shows promising trends during the trial period. Individual participants in Double Date chats sent approximately 25% more messages compared to standard one-on-one Tinder conversations. Additionally, message activity within group interactions increased by nearly 35%, driven strongly by younger users under the age of 29.
Tinder initially tested Double Date in select markets, including areas within Latin America, Spain, and the Nordic countries. The company announced plans for a global rollout in July.
This latest move mirrors a wider trend toward group-oriented dating interactions. Various competitor apps, including Fourplay, DuoDate, and Doubble, have shown potential in this specific niche. One recent survey from UK-based dating app Slide found that nearly half (48%) of Gen Z respondents believed double dates significantly reduce dating-related anxiety.
Long also noted that Double Date complements Tinder’s other recently developed social tools, such as Matchmaker and Share My Date, which focus on integrating friend groups into the dating process. Referencing a recent Tinder report, Long highlighted that nearly half of singles actively seek their friends’ support and involvement when navigating the dating landscape.
Though it shares similarities with Tinder’s previous “Social” feature, Double Date’s focus is clearly geared toward fostering genuine romantic connections in a lower-pressure environment, as opposed to the more casual and nightlife-focused original format.
