Swipebuster: New website lets you check whether someone is using Tinder

2023-08-24 13:53

A new website claims to let its users find out whether people they know are using Tinder. Using public data, Swipebuster says it can reveal whether someone is using the dating app, even revealing their location, profile pictures and bio. Swipebuster charges $4.99 (£3.50) for three searches, and requires users to enter the first name, gender and age of the person they want to check in on, as well as the rough location where they may have last used the app. Although it sounds dodgy, what Swipebuster is doing is completely above board - it uses Tinder's API to access the information, which is typically used by developers building other services to integrate with the app. Swipebuster doesn't make any explicit assumptions about why people would use the site, but the fact its homepage instructs users to "tell us who you want to bust" suggests it's been built with suspicious partners in mind. The site's anonymous creator tells a different story. Speaking to Vanity Fair, he said: "There is too much data about people that people themselves don't know is available." "Not only are people oversharing and putting out a lot of information about themselves, but companies are also not doing enough to let people know they're doing it." Although he claims the site is raising awareness about the importance of data security, a number of people have suggested Swipebuster could by abusive partners or obsessive exes to harass their victims. Tinder is surprisingly unfazed about the site. A spokeswoman told Vanity Fair that "searchable information on the website is public information that Tinder users have on their profiles." "If you want to see who's on Tinder we recommend saving your money and downloading the app for free." There's nothing that can be discovered through Swipebuster that isn't visible on the app, although there's a difference between instantly finding a profile through a search and coming across it after swiping through thousands of profiles. The information shown on Swipebuster isn't secret, although some users will be worried their Tinder use isn't as discreet as before. Read More Read moreTinder reveals the 15 most right-swiped jobs for men and women Terrifying Facebook posts are scaring people into sharing them, fact checkers warn Nvidia sales hit record high as AI chip demand soars Why India’s moon landing is about a lot more than exploring the lunar surface

Swipebuster: New website lets you check whether someone is using Tinder

A new website claims to let its users find out whether people they know are using Tinder.

Using public data, Swipebuster says it can reveal whether someone is using the dating app, even revealing their location, profile pictures and bio.

Swipebuster charges $4.99 (£3.50) for three searches, and requires users to enter the first name, gender and age of the person they want to check in on, as well as the rough location where they may have last used the app.

Although it sounds dodgy, what Swipebuster is doing is completely above board - it uses Tinder's API to access the information, which is typically used by developers building other services to integrate with the app.

Swipebuster doesn't make any explicit assumptions about why people would use the site, but the fact its homepage instructs users to "tell us who you want to bust" suggests it's been built with suspicious partners in mind.

The site's anonymous creator tells a different story. Speaking to Vanity Fair, he said: "There is too much data about people that people themselves don't know is available."

"Not only are people oversharing and putting out a lot of information about themselves, but companies are also not doing enough to let people know they're doing it."

Although he claims the site is raising awareness about the importance of data security, a number of people have suggested Swipebuster could by abusive partners or obsessive exes to harass their victims.

Tinder is surprisingly unfazed about the site. A spokeswoman told Vanity Fair that "searchable information on the website is public information that Tinder users have on their profiles."

"If you want to see who's on Tinder we recommend saving your money and downloading the app for free."

There's nothing that can be discovered through Swipebuster that isn't visible on the app, although there's a difference between instantly finding a profile through a search and coming across it after swiping through thousands of profiles.

The information shown on Swipebuster isn't secret, although some users will be worried their Tinder use isn't as discreet as before.

Terrifying Facebook posts are scaring people into sharing them, fact checkers warn

Nvidia sales hit record high as AI chip demand soars

Why India’s moon landing is about a lot more than exploring the lunar surface