Tinder Charges Higher Subscription Fees For Users Over 50 Years Old

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JAKARTA - The Tinder online dating application is popular all over the world. With its easy operation, it makes it quick for users to find their match with just one swipe.

However, an investigation by consumer group Choice found that Tinder charges some people aged 50 and over significantly more than others for access to premium Tinder Plus services in Australia.

Choice uses a sample of 60 mysterious shoppers to sign up for Tinder, and then compares the information on their profile page with the price offered for a Tinder Plus subscription.

It was found that women aged under 30 years were charged only 6.99 United States (US), equivalent to Rp.103 thousand per month, while men over 50 years of age were billed approximately 34.37 US dollars or the equivalent of Rp.508 thousand.

"Nothing on the Tinder website, privacy policy, or in its terms and conditions the company says that they will charge a different price based on your personal data," said Erin Turner's Choice pin, as reported by ABC News, Wednesday, August 12.

Now Choice is asking the consumer watchdog, ACCC, to investigate whether Tinder has violated Australian consumer law. Not only that, Choice also suspects that Tinder's terms of use are not transparent enough, as Tinder users are not told that their personal data can be used to set subscription prices.

For information, it turns out that the price difference based on age is not the first time that it has become a problem for Tinder. The company was once sued for $ 17.3 million or the equivalent of Rp.256 billion for age discrimination in California early last year.

The action was filed by Tinder user Lisa Kim, who claimed that she and other Tinder users were charged double subscription fees for being over 29 years old.

On the other hand, Choice also blamed Tinder's price not only on age, but also by location, sexuality, and gender.

"But even within the age group, we looked at various prices, which suggests that there are other factors at play that Tinder hasn't explained. It's worrying that we don't know what information about us Tinder uses to determine these personalized prices," Turner concluded.