New Tinder Policies Anger Users

The popular matchmaking app Tinder is under fire from angry users this week after the launch of its new premium service, Tinder Plus, was accompanied by new policies for the free version of the app. Unhappy Tinder users have taken to Twitter this week to voice their displeasure. Swipe limits Tinder allows users to sort through photos of other users by left-swiping people they find unattractive and right-swiping people they find attractive. With the launch of the new premium app, the free app now has limits on the number of "right swipes" each user is allowed in a given amount of time. Once users hit their limit, they must wait 12 hours for a new set of swipes. According to Tinder spokeswoman Rosette Pambakian, there is no set number of swipes per user, and the limit is set based on an algorithm. "The vast majority of our audience will never hit any swiping barrier," Pambakian wrote in an email. However, Tinder users voiced their frustration with the new policy on Twitter. Tinder user @BradyMcIntyre_ Tweeted, "So Tinder, you're telling me that I'm out of right swipes for the day and can no longer swipe right on everyone... This is depressing. #smh." (http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/03/technology/tinder-plus/index.html) Older users paying up In addition to the swiping limits, Tinder also announced that older users will be paying more than twice as much per month ($19.99 versus $9.99) for the premium app. Some older users see this policy as a penalty for not finding love by age 30, but Tinder claims it is simply a discount for younger users. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/03/tinder-premium-app-service/24302681/) Angry enough to leave? It remains to be seen how many of Tinder's more than 10 million daily active users will abandon the app over the new policies. If enough users are angered by the new policies, companies such as IAC/InterActiveCorp

, Spark Networks Inc

and FriendFinder Networks Inc

could see boosts in user numbers in the near future.