Tinder, Hinge Accused of Designing Apps to Promote Addiction (1)

Dating platforms Tinder and Hinge use “psychologically manipulative product features” to lure users and sell pricey subscriptions, according to a purported class action against the platforms’ parent Match Group Inc.

Push notifications, incentive rewards, and other features used by online-dating conglomerate Match Group are allegedly meant to ensure users became addicted to the company’s platforms, the lawsuit says. The dispute was filed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

The complaint, brought by people on dating apps, including Hinge and Tinder, alleged that once a user is addicted to an app, Match Group inserts ...