How Grindr is trying to keep LGBTQ athletes safe at the Paris Olympics
In case you somehow haven't heard, the Olympics are in Paris this year, and it seems like everyone's using the games to level up their dating game and hopefully find a new (athletic) partner in the city of love.
Tinder's launched an ad campaign for the Olympics, encouraging users to "connect with pro athletes" via the Passport Mode feature. Apparently, the terms "Olympian" and "athlete" have seen a significant increase in mentions on the app too.
But Grindr's taking a different approach: Instead of promoting hookups with athletes, Grindr's focusing on creating a safe digital space for LGBTQ+ athletes, especially those from countries where their identity could put them at risk. This isn't new for Grindr either; they implemented similar safety measures during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
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For users within the Olympic Village, Grindr is disabling location-based features like "Explore" and "Roam," and making the "show distance" feature opt-in. The company has also implemented safeguards like blocking screenshots to prevent unintentional outings.
Other privacy controls include the ability to send unlimited disappearing messages and unsend messages after they've been sent (even for free users). Grindr's also disabling private videos within the Olympic Village and sending out weekly reminders about potential risks, just to keep everyone safe and informed.
The app also noted that the only ads that will appear on Grindr within the village will be from Grindr for Equality, which promotes health and safety resources.
"You won't see third-party advertisements — only Grindr for Equality public service announcements to help keep users informed and safe," Grindr announced.
It's unfortunate that we’d even need these types of safety measures, but the reality is that in some parts of the world, LGBTQ+ individuals still face severe discrimination, persecution, and even the threat of violence. Hopefully, with Grindr taking these proactive steps, LGBTQ+ athletes can connect without fear of being outed or targeted.
Tabitha Britt is a freelance writer and editor. Aside from reviewing dating apps and sex toys for Mashable, Tabitha is also the founding editor-in-chief of DO YOU ENDO — a digital magazine by individuals with endometriosis, for individuals with endometriosis. She has a Master's degree in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from The New School of Social Research and is a grad of Sextech School. You can find more of her work in various online pubs, including National Geographic, Insider, Kinkly, and others.
