Tinder is offering is free at-home coronavirus testing for US users and their matches, with the company saying it knows the pandemic has created 'dating obstacles'.
In the past year, online dating has taken on a whole new meaning, no longer just the way to meet someone before planning an IRL rendez-vous, but now also the next step, too.
Meeting someone on Zoom for the first time to enjoy a virtual dinner date no longer sounds like the weirdest prospect ever, while FaceTiming prospective love interests before you've even met is now just the norm.
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Now Tinder is hoping to help people in the US get back out there - and safely - by offering free coronavirus testing kit for its users.
The app has teamed up with Everywell to give away a total of 1,000 Everywell Covid-19 Home Collection Kits, meaning 500 would-be couples can meet up in person.
"As Spring Fever takes off, Tinder is giving 500 matches the encouragement they need to take their crush from flirt sesh on Tinder to a first IRL date with free mail-in COVID-19 tests from Everlywell," the company explains.
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"Tinder members will be able to request a pair - one for them, and one for the match they've been eager to meet IRL.
"On the first day of Spring, Saturday March 20th, members in the continental U.S. can claim a code for their free Everlywell mail-in test from the Tinder app beginning at 7 p.m. eastern time."
Tinder says the 'most of Gen Z' have been stuck at home with their parents - 52 percent, to be precise, according to Pew Research - which means their social lives have been put on hold.
As of October 2020, more than 40 percent of Tinder users under the age of 30 had not met a match in person, but their bios show they want this to change.
'Go on a date' hit an all-time high in US bios in February 2021, according to the dating app, suggesting people are more eager than ever to ditch the virtual dating game.
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Nicole Parlapiano, VP of Marketing for North America at Tinder, said: "The pandemic has created no shortage of dating obstacles, but we think our members are pretty optimistic about getting back out there; January 3rd Swipe activity hit 3.4 billion, which was one of the busiest days of the entire pandemic.
"We're excited to be working with Everlywell to make it easier for our members to go and meet their matches safely."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: News, Dating, US News, Tinder