Dating Apps Under Fire: Survivors Speak Out Against Safety Failures

The Allegations

Victims' Claims: Six women, victims of Denver cardiologist Stephen Matthews, allege that dating apps like Hinge and Tinder failed to protect them.
Repeated Reports: Despite multiple reports, Matthews remained active on the platforms and even received a "Standout" match promotion.
Company's Claim: Match Group, the parent company, claimed they had banned Matthews.

Ease of Disappearance: The lawsuit highlights how users can unmatch and disappear before reports can be made, making it difficult for victims to take action.
Known Issues: The lawsuit states that Match Group has been aware of these issues for years but has not taken sufficient action.

Secret Data: An investigation revealed that Match Group had information about the harm caused on its platforms but kept it secret.
Broken Promises: The company promised to share this data with the public but never followed through.
Reduced Safety Teams: Instead, they scaled back their safety teams.

Sentencing: Matthews was sentenced to 158 years to life in prison for drugging and assaulting 11 women between 2019 and 2023.
Anonymous Lawsuit: The women suing Match Group are doing so anonymously to protect their identities.

Commitment to Safety: Match Group states they are committed to making their apps safer.
New Measures: They mention using AI tools, ID verification, and better communication with law enforcement.
Effectiveness: Recent tests show that banned users can still easily sign up for new accounts on Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and OkCupid.
Tinder's New Feature: Tinder has introduced a new feature called Face Check, but it may not have prevented Matthews from returning.

Alexa's Experience: One of the survivors, Alexa, believes that better safety measures could have prevented her assault.
Impact on Life: She no longer uses dating apps and has accepted that she may never date again.
Company's Responsibility: She feels that companies like Hinge have the resources to make their platforms safer but have not prioritized it.

Section 230: Legal experts say the lawsuit faces challenges due to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which grants online platforms immunity from liability for most user-generated content.
Past Lawsuits: In the past, similar lawsuits have failed because of this law.

Holding Accountable: Despite these challenges, the survivors are determined to hold Match Group accountable.
Hope for Change: They hope their lawsuit will lead to better safety measures on dating apps.
Preventing Future Harm: They want to ensure that no one else has to go through what they experienced.