TINDER NOW WANTS TO KNOW WHERE YOU HANG OUT

Tinder’s claim to fame is it can match you up with people near you – but now the dating app wants to link you to people who hang out at your favourite spots. The Facebook-owned app’s latest hook promises better matches with its brand-new Places functionality. If you’ve been making eyes at the tall, dark and handsome espresso-lover who frequents your local coffee spot, this is the way to do it – provided they have Tinder too, of course. Places lets users connect with matches based on the places they visit often – anywhere from their favourite nightclub to local library – on the assumption that this means the potential partners have a mutual interest.

“You love a good dive bar. You have a passion for spin class. You know where to find the best ramen in town,” Tinder announced on its blog. “That says a lot about you. Now you can swipe on others who are into that too.”

You’re able to see which Tinder users have visited a local hotspot while you’re at the venue via an option at the top of the Discovery page. Of course, safety is a concern, so you won’t be able to see Romeo or Juliet while they’re at the public space in question. The app lets you know they were there only 30 minutes after they’ve left, and the notification expires after 30 days.

Only what Tinder calls “social places” show up on Places – so it won’t alert your crush when you’re at the doctor or the bank. You can also delete a place if you want to keep it hidden.

If this all sounds a little too Big Brother for you, the good news is you can still use Tinder without signing on to Places. To set their preferences, users can tap on the pin next to the flame at the top of their Discovery screen to access Places. Opt in by tapping “Turn Places on” – but keep it off if you’re not interested.