3 days Ago
Some see the feature as a helpful way to filter out what they don't want, while others would prefer to be able to filter in what they do, and to make meaningful connections. Ashley, 24, who is from Wisconsin and currently in a relationship with a man at 5ft 6in, admits she probably wouldn't have dated her current boyfriend if the filter happened in real life. "We were discussing hobbies and things people care about — not the superficial stuff," she says.
At 27, Joe concurs with that assessment that emphasizing physical characteristics like height, can only affect the odds of finding lasting love. "Height should not be a requirement to finding forever," he says, and filters like these make dating difficult for shorter men to begin with.
Filter Debate Underscores Other Problems With Online Dating
Tinder is not the first app to offer a filtering service — its competitor charges for the feature — but it is the first to add a surge pricing option for people who want to drink, flirt and mace anyone who gets handsy. But as the most-used dating service in the world, it can — and does — wield a lot of power.
Part of what you have insinuated here is also that this kind of filtering may perpetuate our dating habits in shallow waters. Writer Beth McColl also recently added to the conversation by noting that while women frequently have no problem with dating shorter men, they may be hesitant to date a man insecure about the issue. It makes us feel like dating is as simple as pulling something out of an à la carte menu," she says.
But not all reaction was negative. 'Even I, quite average-sized for a man in the UK (5ft 9in) have felt that the height preference inhibits matches,' said Matt Heal, 28, from Manchester. He is resigned to the fact that people have their own ways but he doesn't want them to be too rigid. "If you were attracted to individuals who are over six feet, would you really not date someone who was less than 5ft 11in if they were attractive and enjoyed the same interests?"
Experts: Attraction Is About More Than Just Height
Lara Besbrode, managing director of MatchMaker UK, believes that while these add-ons may cater to some people's preferences, it doesn't solve the wider issue of dating fatigue. "A man who is 5ft 7 but confident, kind and emotionally atuned can potentially be more attractive than someone who ticks the 6ft box but is void of personality," she says.
Tinder says its height filter is part of its general goal to "help people make more meaningful connections." The company also noted that test features do not necessarily go on to become permanent, though each one informs its planning for how it can improve app experience.
Now in a happy relationship with Ashley, Joe sees the height filter as a potential barrier to love. "Joe is amazing — super sweet," says Ashley. "If I'd been filtering by height, maybe I wouldn't have found this awesome person."
