Tinder Launches 'Group Hangouts' Feature

Tinder has launched a new feature called 'Group Hangouts' that allows groups of friends to discover, match, and make plans with other groups around shared activities. This move is part of the company's effort to adapt to a social, in-real-life (IRL) dating future.

To start a Group Hangouts group, users can choose an activity and invite at least two friends to join. A Group Hangouts group can have a maximum of 15 people. The feature is available at the top of Tinder's main home screen, making it easily accessible to users.

The Group Hangouts feature builds on Tinder's earlier push into group-oriented dating. Last year, the company launched 'Double Date', which lets users pair up with a friend and browse other pairs. Group Hangouts takes this concept a step further, expanding the number of people involved and shifting the experience away from the traditional one-on-one date toward something more like a social outing.

The launch of Group Hangouts also follows the introduction of an 'Events' tab in March, which lets users discover local activities. Additionally, Tinder expanded its in-person events to dozens of additional cities this month, further emphasizing its focus on social, IRL dating experiences.

## Why it matters The introduction of Group Hangouts reflects a shift in the way younger users approach dating. As they become increasingly tired of the endless scroll, dating apps are adapting to provide more social and real-world experiences. This feature allows users to have more control over their experience, with the ability to leave a conversation without leaving the friend group and block or report another participant if they become uncomfortable.

The rollout of Group Hangouts in phases in the US and select markets is expected to be followed by additional markets. As the feature becomes more widely available, it will be interesting to see how users respond to this new approach to dating and socializing.