The exclusive profile and chatting features aren’t the ones that have brought dating apps popularity. If you look beyond, the Geolocation ability has made dating apps reliable as it allows the users to find potential partners from the location of their choice.

For instance, if you’re on Bumble, you can view profiles based on the location of your interest, and this involvement of geolocation in dating apps has made dating very comfortable. Assuming you’re packed with a hefty schedule and cannot travel a lot, dating apps can help you find someone with similar interests in your location.

While this is exciting and reliable, did you ever think of potential drawbacks and risks of privacy due to geolocation while using dating apps like Bumble, Tinder, and Grindr? If you have thought about these, this article is for you, as we discuss geolocation’s role in modern dating apps.

The Rise of Geolocation-Based Dating

The release of better smartphones and the enhanced internet slowly led to the rise of apps. With this change, people have gradually adapted to them and made them part of their daily lives, and dating apps are among them.

If we speak of the evolution, it all started with Tinder, which has implemented several exclusive features, and geolocation was one among them. While apps like Bumble, Grindr, etc., originated from the concept of Tinder, the different approaches and features have made them unique.

If you pay close attention, all the dating apps you use today rely heavily on geolocation, ensuring users find matches in their locality of choice. Imagine, with just a few taps, you could find someone nearby, chat, and potentially set up a date.

Speaking of stats, the number of dating app users grew to 366 million in 2022, and it is evident that online dating platforms aren’t going away anytime soon.

Benefits of Geolocation in Dating Apps

The rise of dating apps has brought many benefits, and while they are important, here are a few key benefits of geolocation in dating apps which has led to the success of dating apps.

Localized Matches

In the case of earlier dating websites or software, the location always needs to be more accurate and requires distance travel for a date. However, users of modern dating applications can identify potential dates in their city or neighborhood thanks to geolocation.

Travel Mode

As dating apps have developed, many have gradually begun to include the travel mode. Take Bumble Travel Mode as an example, which enables users to look through potential matches in the locations of their future travels, creating the opportunity for interesting connections.

Real-time Experiences

As we’ve previously discussed, online dating services and software in the past were boring, and going out on a date was difficult. On the other hand, geolocation has encouraged spontaneity in dating applications because you can instantly identify matches and date right away.

Safety Measures

Usually, while creating a profile, dating apps start verifying the users through geolocation by checking the location. It is done to prevent fraudulent profiles as a safety measure that keeps the users safe and increases the platform’s trust.

Shared Interests

As the date is set to a person from your locality, there is a possibility for similar hobbies, considering you have been to similar places. For instance, if both have a similar area of interest, it can be an exciting date and a great conversation starter.

Drawbacks and Challenges of Geolocation in Dating Apps

While geolocation is a great asset to dating apps, it has a few potential drawbacks, and here are some of them.

1. User Permission: Not all users want to share their location for fear of unwanted communication. While no app publically discloses the user’s address, the app needs to explain the need to gather the user’s location details.
2. Battery Drain: Constant tracking can drain smartphone batteries, which can be a big issue.
3. Data Privacy Concerns: Compliance with laws like GDPR is crucial for user data. While all dating apps follow them, many fear data leaks, as they have become extremely common today.
4. Accuracy Issues: Geolocation might not always be accurate, which can cause issues for both parties. Sometimes, they are spoofed to cause illegal activities as well.

Why Users Want to Change Their Geolocation?

There isn’t a specific reason people change their geolocation while using data apps. Here are some of the potential reasons why people usually do it:

1. Privacy: Users usually change their geolocation on dating apps to hide their real location for safety.
2. Exploration: Allows virtual travel to find matches worldwide and preview the profiles in potential new locations.
3. Overcoming Restrictions: Some regions might set restrictions, and in such a scenario, the users change the geolocation to connect with new people.
4. Avoiding Attention: While this is rarely done, a few change geolocation to prevent being seen by unnecessary strangers or known people.

Methods to Change Geolocation on Dating Apps

If you’re here, we assume you’re trying to change the geolocation on your dating app. For better insights, we have provided all the information about why it is necessary.

However, if you have to change it, here are a few methods to change the geolocation, along with the pros and cons.

Using VPNs

A VPN establishes a secure tunnel between your device and a server located elsewhere. When you send data, it first goes through this tunnel, gets encrypted, and then emerges from the server with a new IP address.

This new IP corresponds to the server’s location, not yours, effectively masking your real location. For dating apps, you appear to be logging in from wherever the server is based.

Pros:

1. Hide your actual IP address to increase your online privacy
2. Get around geo-restrictions to access content from various regions
3. Stop internet services and monitoring websites from collecting your usage and personal data
4. Added security features like kill switches and data encryption will give you greater freedom

Cons:

1. Some dating apps may impose access restrictions if they discover VPN usage
2. Free VPNs could jeopardize data privacy and have slower connection speeds
3. Connectivity problems might occasionally result from relying too much on VPNs

Using GPS Spoofing

GPS spoofing aims to trick your device or apps into thinking it is somewhere it is not. Users can manually set their GPS coordinates to any location in the world by using specialized programs.

When a dating app asks for your site, your device sends the fake coordinates rather than your actual ones, letting you appear elsewhere.

Pros:

1. Allows users to explore matches in various locations without really being there
2. Useful for applications and services where location access is necessary but where precise location is optional
3. You can use it to access localized offers or information
4. By hiding your actual location, it offers a certain amount of privacy
5. Most apps have intuitive user interfaces that are simple to use

Cons:

1. Some apps, particularly dating apps, can recognize and condemn GPS spoofing
2. Consistency issues in-app experiences can result from excessive use
3. It might only sometimes give precise location information

Using Paid Versions of the Dating App (Tinder Plus)

Tinder Passport is an in-app feature for those with a premium Tinder subscription. It lets users drop a pin on any part of the world map and swipe in that region. Essentially, it overrides your phone’s GPS to use the location you’ve selected within the app.

Pros:

1. Seamless integration within Tinder ensures a smooth user experience
2. Allows users to explore potential matches in locations they plan to visit
3. It is great for people who travel frequently and want to connect ahead of time
4. No need for third-party apps or tools
5. Ensures that the user’s profile is shown in the chosen location

Cons:

1. Exclusive to Tinder Plus and Gold subscribers
2. This can lead to matches that are geographically inconvenient in the long run
3. Some users might perceive it as deceitful

Using Manual VPN Configuration

This method requires you to manually enter server information into your device’s network settings rather than depending on VPN software to configure things.

Your smartphone connects to a server just like it would with an app by providing its IP address and other necessary information, but with more user control over the connection settings.

Pros:

1. Offers a more customized connection based on user preferences
2. Reduces the risk of third-party app vulnerabilities
3. It can provide a more stable connection in some cases
4. It gives users a deeper understanding of how VPNs work
5. Potentially offers a wider range of server choices

Cons:

1. Setting it up can be complex for non-tech-savvy users
2. Troubleshooting issues might be more challenging without app support
3. Manual configurations might miss out on some advanced features offered by VPN apps

Using Proxy

Proxies act as intermediaries between your device and the internet. The proxy server sends requests you make, such as accessing a dating app, on your behalf.

The response is then conveyed to you after returning to the proxy, and your location is effectively changed because the dating app sees the proxy’s IP address rather than your own.

Pros:

1. It helps in avoiding geo-restrictions like VPNs
2. It may offer some degree of online anonymity
3. Useful for getting access to stuff that is geographically restricted
4. Since they don’t encrypt data, they are typically faster than VPNs
5. It is simple to set up on smartphones or browsers

Cons:

1. It doesn’t provide as much security as VPNs
2. Some websites and applications can identify and prohibit users who are using proxies
3. Free proxies could be faulty and put user data at risk

Conclusion

Through this article, we have provided you with every best approach required to change the geolocation on dating apps. Alongside these, we have provided necessary insights into geolocation and its benefits and disadvantages.

If you ask us, using VPNs like NordVPN is arguably the best approach. However, if you don’t want to indulge in using any software or other approaches, purchase the premium versions of the dating apps that support geolocation change.