While new features that aim to improve personal safety are welcome, experts advise there’s still more that can be done. “A lot of apps are getting tighter on verification, but it’s probably quite difficult with millions of users across the globe to figure out who are real users and who aren’t,” explains Sayle. “With a lot of dating apps, your valuation is based on your number of users, so you have that catch of wanting to get your user numbers up for your business to succeed.”

Innovating and introducing new safety features is key for apps to take more accountability. “I’d say [the dating apps] are trying – some more than others, perhaps,” says Campbell. “Features like in-app video messaging, reverse checking of photos and AI checking for sexual or threatening images and content are helpful features, for instance.”

Tinder is releasing a ‘share my date’ feature – but are dating apps going far enough to protect personal safety?