UK, if you are vaccinated, you get extra points on dating apps

Extra points on dating apps if you're vaccinated: put the badge on your profile and you'll get a bonus for a better chance of getting a date. Here's the new British idea.

Dating apps Tinder, Match, Hinge, Bumble, Badoo and many others have all joined the vaccination programme in partnership with the UK government. The idea of vaccine badges on dating apps was launched in the US in May.

UK, if you are vaccinated, you get extra points on dating apps

The campaign started after a recent YouGov poll showed that 59% of adults would prefer to date someone who has been vaccinated and a further 28% would not date someone unless they had received the vaccine.

In England and Wales, people over the age of 18 can now benefit from the vaccine. In Northern Ireland and Wales it is available to everyone over 18. The government says that so far more than 40 million people have received at least one of the two doses.

Dating apps are now being used to encourage younger people to get vaccinated.

Some apps include additional incentives for those who claim to be vaccinated, such as free credits or access to premium features that usually cost more, such as profile upgrades, donations of virtual roses and ‘super likes‘.

• Tinder: members will be able to add a variety of stickers to their profile including “I’m vaccinated” or “Vaccines save lives”, with Tinder offering those who support the campaign a free “super like” to help them stand out among others. Tinder will also launch a “vaccine hub” with a range of resources to educate and connect members with their nearest vaccination site.

• Match and Ourtime: members will be able to add a new badge to their profile to show their vaccination status.

• OkCupid: users will be able to add an “I’m Vaccinated” profile badge and be featured in OkCupid’s “Vaccinated” stack, its new matching system that allows users to search by selected categories on the app. Those who participate will also receive a free “boost”.

• Hinge: users who participate in their own vaccination campaign will receive a free “rose”, indicating to other users that they are excited to meet them.

• Plenty of Fish: members will be able to add an “I got my vaccine” badge to their profiles. Those who participate will receive 20 credits to use towards Plenty of Fish’s live streaming feature.

• Bumble: the popular dating app for women will allow people in the UK to add a ‘vaccinated’ badge to their profiles. For those who apply the badge, Bumble will offer free credits for premium features such as Spotlight and Superswipes. People on Bumble will also be able to share COVID-19 preferences, allowing them to easily communicate how they feel about dating: outdoors or indoors, how they feel about crowded spaces and their expectations about masks and social distance. Bumble will also leverage its social media channels to amplify the need for vaccination.

• Badoo: in-app promotions will allow people in the UK to add a ‘vaccinated’ badge to their profiles. In addition, Badoo will offer vaccinated people free credits for premium features such as Spotlight and Superswipes. Badoo will also leverage its social media channels to amplify the need to get vaccinated.

• Muzmatch: content featuring doctors answering users’ most pressing questions about the vaccine will be posted on social media channels.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi has described the new initiative as an incredible resource for the UK’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Privacy campaigner Dr Stephanie Hare said that because the appointment app badge is voluntary and no official documentation is required, the risk to privacy is low. Of course, that means there’s no guarantee that it’s even true!