Tinder Faces Backlash Over $499 'Tinder Select' Subscription

The exclusive membership, offering perks such as the ability to message without matching, has been criticized for exploiting vulnerabilities and reinforcing societal notions of status and privilege.

• Tinder has introduced a new 'Tinder Select' subscription costing $499 per month, or around $6,000 per year, offering exclusive perks to its users.
• The subscription is invitation-only and requires an application process, with less than 1% of Tinder's users being able to engage in the VIP experience.
• Perks of the subscription include the ability to direct message users without matching first, early access to new features, and a 'SELECT' badge on the user's profile.
• The move has been met with widespread criticism and mockery, with some suggesting it is taking advantage of people's vulnerabilities and others warning of potential societal implications.
• Despite the backlash, Tinder's move reflects a growing trend in the dating app industry towards paid subscriptions, with other apps such as Hinge and Raya also offering expensive tiers.

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