Tinder's New 'Panic Button' Will Call The Police If You Feel Unsafe During A Date

Tinder is launching a new feature that will ensure app users are safe both on and off the platform. Earlier this week, the dating app announced that it is rolling out a “panic button” for real-life dates that go wrong.

Since its launch, Tinder has been receiving criticisms for being a mere hookup app, keeping hopeless romantics busy swiping in the hopes of finding a potential relationship. In a bid to up its game and address longtime concerns over the safety of its users, Tinder is soon launching a number of safety features that are specifically tailored to safe physical meet-ups, including the panic button.

According to Tinder’s press release, this safety button will automatically alert safety authorities in case something goes wrong during a date. Using this feature, users will be able to trigger an alarm that will connect them to emergency services in case they feel uncomfortable with their dates.

Tinder’s parent company Match Group confirmed on its press release that it’s partnering with Noonlight on this new feature. For the panic button to work, Tinder users will have to download Noonlight and enable the app’s location-tracking tools. In the event that a user feels unsafe during a date, she can open the Noonlight app and press a button there to discreetly contact Noonlight dispatchers. These dispatchers will then send the user a text so she will not have to vocally talk for help. If the user fails to respond to the text, Noonlight will send a code and call the user. If there’s still no answer, Noonlight will start dispatching emergency services.

With the launch of the panic button comes many other safety tools, including the ability for users to check in and tell their friends where they are and who they are dating. Tinder is also testing a new photo verification tool that will allow users to make sure the person they are talking to is someone real before they agree on a date.

“A safe and positive dating experience is crucial to our business,” said Match Group CEO Mandy Ginsberg in a statement. “We’ve found cutting-edge technology in Noonlight that can deliver real-time emergency services—which doesn’t exist on any other dating product—so that we can empower singles with tools to keep them safer and give them more confidence,” he added.

Users will be able to access these new free tools starting Jan. 28.