Tinder Social wants to make group dating cool again

Tinder’s new feature is just perfect for those (understandably) too chicken to playing the dating game alone. Dubbed Tinder Social, the company has now added the ability for groups to accept dates, creating the perfect night out to a concert or movie.

Tinder now allows users to swipe right on groups, allowing entire bunches of people to hit the town together. Tinder claims this to be a much better experience for some, who often find comfort being about people they’re familiar with.

“Often your best nights are when you’re hanging with friends, someone makes an unexpected connection with someone in another crew, and your two crews have an amazing time together,” the company explains in its blog.

“Maybe you spark a romantic connection. Maybe you make new friends. Either way, a good night out with your friends becomes something better.”

Tinder Social is is just perfect for those too chicken to playing the dating game alone

Users can create groups, invite their friends to said group and match with other groups heading out. Inspired by Snapchat and Cinderella perhaps, these matches will expire “at noon the next day, “and your Uber turns into a pumpkin,” Tinder jokes.

While this goes a long way to removing the stigma still attached to internet dating, as well as the awkwardness inherent in meeting new people, there are a few catches. Users will have to unlock the feature, and can only match with other users who’ve unlocked it.

That said, this is a great move for the company diversifying its offerings. It’s now a service that allows people to plan events and activities, as well as providing a dating service on the side.

Tinder Social was first trialed in Australia, but it’s now available in New Zealand, the US, UK, Canada and India. There’s no word on the feature heading to South Africa just yet.