Match Group, the parent company of dating apps Tinder and Hinge, have been sued for using addictive features to keep users in a continuous cycle of payments and falling short of delivering genuine connections.
The class-action suit filed in the federal court of the Northern District of California, claims that Match Group prioritizes financial gains commitment to helping users in finding meaningful relationships on the platforms.
According to the legal filing, Match’s business model relies on monopolizing users’ attention and foments a dating app addiction that forces users to opt for increasingly expensive subscriptions against their wishes.
The six users also accused Match Group of manipulating user psychology by using dopamine-inducing features, turning the pursuit of romantic connections into a gamble.
Match Group has not provided an immediate response to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit comes at a time of increased scrutiny on tech companies for adding features that may be addictive and detrimental to the mental health of users.
Tinder stands out as the most lucrative dating app with a revenue of $1.9 billion in 2023.
Tinder has a sizable user base of 10.7 million subscribers worldwide.
