This page is safety advice for using Tinder; it says you can't control others but can take steps to stay safer
The page is Tinder's list of safety tips. It is written as advice to you: be cautious with people you don't know, use your best judgment and put your safety first, from the first message through meeting in person. Tinder says you can't control what other people do, but there are things you can do to help stay safe. The tips describe precautions for you to take; they are not framed as Tinder promising to keep you safe.
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Safety tips
you should always be cautious when interacting with someone you don’t know
Use your best judgment and put your safety first, whether you’re sending your first message or meeting in-person.
While you can’t control the actions of others, there are things you can do to help stay safe during your Tinder experience.
Qualifications & exceptions
The tips are phrased as recommendations ("you should", "Use your best judgment"), not as contract terms.
Not stated here
The page does not say whether any tip is binding or how it relates to Tinder's Terms of Use or Community Guidelines, which are not supplied here.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Context
Never send money or share financial account details with a match, even in a claimed emergency
Tinder advises you never to send money to someone you meet, whether by wire transfer, a banking service or a phone app, even if the person says they are in an emergency, because such transfers can be nearly impossible to reverse or trace. Don't make investments or open accounts with a match, or through services or websites they recommend, and never share information that could be used to get into your financial accounts. If another user asks you for money, Tinder asks you to report it to them immediately. The page links to U.S. Federal Trade Commission advice on romance scams, which is not supplied here.
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Never send money, whether it’s through wire transfer, banking service, or an app on your phone, even if the person claims to be in an emergency.
It can be nearly impossible to reverse these transactions or trace where the money went.
Don’t make investments or open accounts with someone you matched with or through services or websites they recommend.
Never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts.
If another user asks you for money, report it to us immediately.
For tips on avoiding romance scams, check out some
Qualifications & exceptions
The advice applies even when the other person claims an emergency.
Reporting a request for money is asked of you "immediately".
Not stated here
The linked FTC romance-scam advice is not part of this source.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Don't share your SSN, home or work address or daily routine; parents should limit details about their children
Tinder advises you never to share personal information with people you don't know, giving as examples your social security number, your home or work address, and details of your daily routine such as going to a certain gym every Monday. If you are a parent, it advises limiting what you share about your children on your profile and in early communications, and avoiding details such as images of your children, their names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders.
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Never share personal information, such as your social security number, home or work address, or details about your daily routine (for example, that you go to a certain gym every Monday) with people you don’t know.
If you’re a parent, limit the information that you share about your children on your profile and in early communications.
Avoid sharing details such as images of your children, their names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders.
Qualifications & exceptions
The listed items are examples ("such as"), not a complete list.
The advice is about people you don't know; the children advice covers your profile and early communications.
Security & Safeguards · Company practice
Exchanges on Tinder are subject to its Trust & Safety detections; Tinder advises keeping conversations on the app
Tinder says exchanges on Tinder are subject to its Trust & Safety detections, and for that reason advises keeping conversations on the Tinder platform while you are getting to know someone. It warns that users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email or phone right away.
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Keep conversations on the Tinder platform while you’re getting to know someone.
Because exchanges on Tinder are subject to our Trust & Safety detections, users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email, or phone right away.
Qualifications & exceptions
The advice applies while you are getting to know someone.
Not stated here
The page does not describe what the Trust & Safety detections examine, whether they are automated, or what happens when they flag something.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Red flags: matches stuck overseas asking for help, pushing investments, avoiding calls or meetings
Tinder advises watching for scammers who claim to be from your country but stuck somewhere else, especially if they ask for financial help to get home, and not letting a match talk you into investing or opening an account with a service or website they share. It advises being wary of anyone who won't meet in person or talk on a phone or video call, since they may not be who they say they are. Someone who avoids your questions or pushes for a serious relationship without meeting or getting to know you first is described as a red flag.
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Watch out for scammers who claim to be from your country but stuck somewhere else, especially if they ask for financial help to return home.
Don’t let a match talk you into investing or opening an account with a service or website they share.
Be wary of anyone who will not meet in person or talk on a phone/video call—they may not be who they say they are.
If someone is avoiding your questions or pushing for a serious relationship without meeting or getting to know you first, that’s a red flag.
Account & Service Control · User right or choice
You can block and report anyone who violates Tinder's terms or your personal boundaries
Tinder asks you to block and report anyone who violates its terms or your personal boundaries, saying it wants to know when someone crosses the line. It gives examples of violations: requests for money or donations; underage users; harassment, threats and abusive messages; inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person; fraudulent profiles; and spam or solicitation, including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services.
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Block and report anyone that violates our terms or your personal boundaries.
Here are some examples of violations:
Requests for money or donations
Underage users
Harassment, threats, and abusive messages
Inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person
Fraudulent profiles
Spam or solicitation, including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services
Qualifications & exceptions
The list is introduced as examples of violations, not a complete list.
Reporting covers behavior that crosses your personal boundaries as well as violations of Tinder's terms.
Harmful behavior that happens during or after an in-person meeting is reportable, not only on-app conduct.
Not stated here
Tinder's terms that define violations are not supplied here, and the page does not say what Tinder does after a report.
Account & Service Control · Procedure
Reports can be made from any profile page or messaging window; Community Guidelines are linked, not supplied
Tinder says you can report concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page or messaging window, and points to its Community Guidelines for more information. The linked reporting help article and Community Guidelines are not part of this source.
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You can [report](https://www.help.tinder.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003822043-Reporting-something-that-happened-on-the-app) any concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page or messaging window.
For more information, check out our
Not stated here
The linked reporting help article and the Community Guidelines are not supplied here.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Take your time before meeting or moving off Tinder; a phone or video call can help screen a match
Tinder advises taking your time to get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or to chat off Tinder, and asking questions to screen for red flags or your personal dealbreakers. It suggests a phone or video call as a useful screening step before meeting.
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Take your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat off-Tinder.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions to screen for any red flags or personal dealbreakers.
A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool before meeting.
Qualifications & exceptions
The call is described as "a useful screening tool", a suggestion rather than a requirement.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Meet in a busy public place, never a private home; end the date if pressured to go somewhere private
Tinder advises meeting in a populated, public place and staying there, never at your home, your date's home or any other private location. If your date pressures you to go to a private location, it advises ending the date.
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Meet in a populated, public place — never at your home, your date’s home, or any other private location.
If your date pressures you to go to a private location, end the date.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Never" covers your home, your date's home and any other private location.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Tell a friend or family member when and where you're going, keep your phone charged, consider sharing your location
Tinder advises telling a friend or family member your plans, including when and where you are going, and keeping your cell phone charged and with you at all times. It suggests considering your phone's built-in features to share your location with someone you trust while you are on a date.
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Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including when and where you’re going.
Have your cell phone charged and with you at all times.
Consider using your phone’s built-in features to share your location with someone you trust while you’re out on a date.
Qualifications & exceptions
Location sharing is something to "consider", using your phone's own features, with someone you trust.
Not stated here
The page does not say Tinder itself offers a location-sharing feature; it points to your phone's built-in features.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Control your own way to and from the date so you can leave whenever you want
Tinder wants you to control how you get to and from your date so that you can leave whenever you want. If you are driving yourself, it suggests having a backup plan, such as a ride-share app or a friend who can pick you up.
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We want you to be in control of how you get to and from your date so that you can leave whenever you want.
If you’re driving yourself, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan such as a ride-share app or a friend to pick you up.
Qualifications & exceptions
The backup-plan suggestion is for when you drive yourself.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Know how drugs or alcohol affect you; end the date if pressured to use or drink more
Tinder advises being aware of how drugs or alcohol affect you specifically, since they can impair your judgment and alertness. If your date tries to pressure you to use drugs or drink more than you are comfortable with, it advises holding your ground and ending the date.
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Be aware of the effects of drugs or alcohol on you specifically — they can impair your judgment and your alertness.
If your date tries to pressure you to use drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, hold your ground and end the date.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Only accept drinks served directly by the bartender or server; keep your drink and belongings with you
Tinder advises knowing where your drink comes from and where it is at all times, and only accepting drinks poured or served directly by the bartender or server. It notes that many substances slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless and tasteless. It also advises keeping your phone, purse, wallet and anything containing personal information on you at all times.
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Know where your drink comes from and know where it is at all times — only accept drinks poured or served directly from the bartender or server.
Many substances that are slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless, and tasteless.
Also, keep your phone, purse, wallet, and anything containing personal information on you at all times.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Ending a date early when uncomfortable is encouraged; ask the bartender or server for help if you feel unsafe
Tinder says it is okay, and encouraged, to end a date early if you feel uncomfortable. If your instincts tell you something is off or you feel unsafe, it advises asking the bartender or server for help.
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It’s okay to end the date early if you’re feeling uncomfortable. In fact, it’s encouraged.
And if your instincts are telling you something is off or you feel unsafe, ask the bartender or server for help.
Use & Processing · Company practice
In territories Tinder identifies as unsafe for LGBTQ+ people, it hides your sexual orientation until you leave
If you added a sexual orientation to your profile and you are in a territory Tinder has identified as unsafe for LGBTQ+ people, Tinder says it will hide your sexual orientation from your profile until you leave that area. Separately, Tinder suggests that if you are in unsafe territory you toggle off "Show me on Tinder", a setting on the Settings page; that is your choice, not something Tinder does for you.
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If you added a sexual orientation to your profile and you’re in a territory that we’ve identified as being unsafe for LGBTQ+ people, we’ll hide your sexual orientation from your profile until you leave that area.
If you’re in unsafe territory, we suggest toggling off “Show me on Tinder,” which you can find under the Settings page.
Qualifications & exceptions
Hiding applies only if you added a sexual orientation to your profile and only while you are in a territory Tinder has identified as unsafe.
The orientation is hidden until you leave that area.
Turning off "Show me on Tinder" is a suggestion you act on yourself.
Not stated here
The page does not list which territories Tinder treats as unsafe or explain how it determines that you are in one.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Context
LGBTQ+ travelers: check local laws; some countries target LGBTQ+ people and police have used dating apps for entrapment
Tinder advises LGBTQ+ users to be careful while traveling, because some countries have laws that target LGBTQ+ people. It advises reviewing local laws when traveling and researching what legal protection, if any, is available to you based on sexual orientation. It urges extra caution if you choose to connect with new people in these countries, saying some law enforcement officials have used dating apps for potential entrapment, and that some countries have recently introduced laws criminalizing communications on same-sex dating apps or websites, with heavier penalties if the communication leads to sexual encounters. The page points to ILGA World's map of sexual orientation laws by country; that resource is not supplied here, and the page's own source note is dated March 2019.
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Some countries have specific laws that target LGBTQ+ people. Review local laws when traveling to a new place and research what types of legal protection, if any, are available to you based on sexual orientation.
It’s important to exercise extra caution if you choose to connect with new people in these countries - some law enforcement officials have been known to use dating apps as tools for potential entrapment.
Some countries have also recently introduced laws that criminalize communications between individuals on same-sex dating apps or websites and even aggravate penalties if that communication leads to sexual encounters.
Source: ILGA World, Updated March 2019
Qualifications & exceptions
The page's cited source note reads "Source: ILGA World, Updated March 2019", so its description of country laws may be out of date.
The page does not name any specific country.
Not stated here
The linked ILGA World map is not part of this source; this page does not state current law in any country.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Condoms reduce but don't remove STI risk; some STIs spread by skin contact and some can be prevented by vaccination
Tinder says that condoms, used correctly and consistently, can significantly reduce the risk of getting and passing on STIs like HIV, but warns that STIs like herpes or HPV can be passed on through skin-to-skin contact. It says the risk of some STIs can be reduced through vaccination and links to an outside resource that is not supplied here.
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When used correctly and consistently, condoms can significantly reduce the risk of contracting and passing on STI’s like HIV.
But, be aware of STIs like herpes or HPV that can be passed on through skin-to-skin contact.
The risk of contracting some STIs can be reduced through
Qualifications & exceptions
The condom statement applies "When used correctly and consistently" and describes reduced, not eliminated, risk.
Not stated here
The linked vaccination resource is not part of this source.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Get tested regularly since not all STIs show symptoms; the linked clinic finder is US only
Tinder notes that not all STIs show symptoms and advises getting tested regularly to stay on top of your health and prevent the spread of STIs. It links to a clinic finder that it marks as US only; that resource is not supplied here.
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Not all STIs show symptoms, and you don’t want to be in the dark about your status.
Stay on top of your health and prevent the spread of STIs by getting tested regularly.
(US only)
Qualifications & exceptions
The clinic-finder link is marked "(US only)".
Not stated here
The linked clinic finder is not part of this source.
Security & Safeguards · Context
Talk about sexual health and STI testing before getting intimate; knowingly passing on an STI is a crime in some places
Tinder advises talking with a partner about sexual health and STI testing before you get physically intimate. It warns that in some places it is a crime to knowingly pass on an STI. It links to conversation tips from an outside resource that is not supplied here.
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Before you get physically intimate with a partner, talk about sexual health and STI testing.
And be aware — in some places, it’s actually a crime to knowingly pass on an STI.
Qualifications & exceptions
The criminal-law warning applies "in some places" and to knowingly passing on an STI; the page does not name where.
Not stated here
The page does not say which places criminalize this; the linked conversation tips are not supplied.
Security & Safeguards · Restriction or exception
Sexual activity must start with consent, which can be withdrawn at any time; don't proceed if a partner can't consent
Tinder states that all sexual activity must start with consent and should include ongoing check-ins with your partner. Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and sex is never owed to anyone. Do not proceed if your partner seems uncomfortable or unsure, or if they are unable to consent because of drugs or alcohol. The page links to outside reading on what consent looks like, which is not supplied here.
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All sexual activity must start with consent and should include ongoing check-ins with your partner.
Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and sex is never owed to anyone.
Do not proceed if your partner seems uncomfortable or unsure, or if your partner is unable to consent due to the effects of drugs or alcohol.
Verbal communication can help you and your partner ensure that you respect each other’s boundaries.
Qualifications & exceptions
Consent "must" start sexual activity; ongoing check-ins "should" be included.
Not proceeding covers a partner who seems uncomfortable or unsure, as well as one unable to consent due to drugs or alcohol.
Not stated here
The linked outside reading on consent is not part of this source.