Match Group revealed on Tuesday that its subsidiaries, including Tinder, have successfully blocked close to 5 million spam and bot accounts during the first quarter, either at the sign-up stage or prior to user visibility.
Internet crime experts highlight the diverse methods employed by cyber criminals across online platforms, ranging from email and text phishing scams to social media networks and online dating services. Match Group emphasizes its ongoing investment in advanced detection and removal tools to safeguard the integrity of their services.
According to Match Group’s statement, “On average, 44 spam accounts are removed every minute across our portfolio, as part of our efforts to combat suspected fraudulent accounts. Furthermore, between January and March of this year, we have eliminated nearly 5 million bots and spam accounts before they could gain access to the platform or shortly after sign-up, in order to prevent potential harm.”
Tinder acknowledges the evolving tactics of spammers over the years, who exploit common member behaviors, such as including social handles in their bios to redirect traffic to other platforms. These spammers often monetize directly or share additional links that lead to third-party sites for monetization.
To address this issue, Tinder recently revised its Community Guidelines, outlining positive behaviors that contribute to an optimal experience for all users on the app. As part of these updates, Tinder will remove social handles from public bios that advertise or promote social profiles for the purpose of gaining followers, selling items, fundraising, or campaigning.
“We continuously enhance our spam prevention tools to improve their effectiveness and invest in machine learning, both of which we consider essential for Match Group to maintain a safer service for our users worldwide,” stated Jess Johnson, Director of Safety Product at Match Group.
By employing a combination of technology, human moderation, and user education to encourage the reporting of suspicious activities, Match Group is able to remove the majority of spam either during sign-up or before users encounter it.
Tinder has implemented several safety features, including Photo Verification with selfie videos, Block Profile functionality, and in-app video chat, as mentioned in the statement.
