Tinder is part of the Match Group of businesses, which includes Plenty of Fish, OkCupid and Match. Your information may be shared with other businesses in this group. Tinder and OkCupid have recently come under fire following the release of a report by the Norwegian Consumer Council which found that the apps are sharing personal user information with third parties.
"I would never have met Anthony without the assistance of internet dating because we would never have crossed paths," she says.
"These scams can also pose a risk to your personal safety, as scammers are often part of international criminal networks. Scammers have lured unwitting Australian victims overseas, putting people in dangerous situations that can have tragic consequences."
Free: Users can see profiles, match with other users and chat with matches. They can send one Super Like each day, which shows someone that you're really interested in them.
You can access eHarmony for free, but paying a subscription gives you more information about other users.
Paid: Memberships cost $14.95 per month for six-months, $24.95 per month for three-months or $34.95 a month paid monthly. Memberships auto-renew unless you cancel your membership before it expires. With a paid membership, you can send and receive messages and winks, chat with connections, see profiles of those who have viewed yours, and get full access to Smartpick, Zoosk's matching services.
Zoosk Coins: You can also earn or buy Zoosk "Coins", which unlock your matches, allow you to send virtual gifts, boost your profile, and get delivery confirmations on emails, among other features. Coins cost $19.95 for 180, up to $99.95 for 1800 coins. Coins can be earned by using or signing up to various third-party apps, surveys, services and websites.
"We live in different parts of Sydney and lead different lifestyles – our paths would never have crossed in the real world. But that's a good thing, I think – it helps you meet people from outside your bubble," says Isabelle*.
We did a mystery shop of Tinder Plus to find out more about the app's prices in Australia, setting quotas based on gender, sexuality, location and age group (18–29, 30–49 and 50+).
If you want to message another user, you'll need to use stamps. Prices range from $5–14 per stamp depending on quantity purchased. One stamp opens up 30 days of contact via chat or message with any one member.
"The Bumble app is free and I have had the most dates with this app. It's an easy format and given the female makes contact first, you can eliminate unwanted attention." – Kate*, 44.
Tips? You run into all the same human behaviours with internet dating as you do with any other form of dating. People lie about their age, marital status, etc. The only real difference is that it's easier to lie about your height when you've never met in person!
OkCupid has free and paid A-list memberships. According to the company, the site is designed so that a free account doesn't hinder your use of the site – you don't need the paid features to use the site.
Signing up to an RSVP account and agreeing to its privacy terms and conditions grants permission for your personal information, including photos and email addresses, to be used for advertising or transmission to a third party.
Tinder Plus: This in-app subscription gives you access to features like Rewind (which allows you to review people you accidentally passed on) and Passport (which allows you to match with people in different locations), as well as five Super Likes per day and unlimited 'right swipes' or likes. It also gives you additional Boosts (which increase profile visibility). Tinder's pricing varies depending on a number of undisclosed factors.
After the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook users might be understandably wary of sharing personal information in the Facebook app – especially particularly sensitive information that you might share in the course of getting to know someone. But given how many of us use Facebook, the convenience of an embedded dating app will most likely trump users' concerns about privacy. We'll be watching this closely!
The eharmony Open Communication feature allows you to chat as you would on most other dating websites (if that’s what you’re most comfortable with), and you can get right to it by clicking Fast Track. However, if you’re nervous about that first contact and aren’t sure what to say, the site offers Guided Communication. With this feature, you can send a few getting-to-know-you questions that eharmony provides as well as 10 must-haves and can’t-stands.
The ACCC reports that they received 3640 complaints about dating and romance scams in 2019, with women losing more than twice as much money as men. People aged 45+ are the most likely to be targeted.
Internet dating can be a great way to meet new people – and possibly find 'the one' – but it's important to keep your wits about you and protect your own privacy and safety, first and foremost.
Incognito mode: This makes your profile invisible to everyone on the site unless you 'like' or message them, and gives you ad-free access. You can turn it on or off as you please. Prices range from $US9.95 to $US19.95 per month depending on the length of subscription.
