One of the problems that people have encountered most with the rise of dating apps like Tinder and Bumble has been the prominence of catfishes, or people who put together fake profiles with pictures of others that they took from online. Bumble is now offering an antidote to catfish by forcing flagged users to submit selfies.
For Bumble's selfie verification, the app sends users one of 100 random photo poses that it has on file. The user then mimics this pose as closely as possible in a selfie, and sends that selfie back to Bumble. Rather than using some sort of facial recognition, Bumble claims that an actual human will assess each submission for similarity to the photos on the user's account.
Despite this work-intensive process, Bumble estimates wait times of just a few minutes for verification. The process will only be mandatory for flagged accounts, so not every user needs to send a selfie.
Selfie Profile Verifications
The Bumble Dating App Has Begun Authenticating Profiles with Selfies
Trend Themes
1. Selfie Verification - In response to catfishing concerns, dating apps may adopt selfie verification to authenticate user profiles.
2. Human Assessment - The use of actual human assessment for selfie verification may become a trend to ensure accuracy and prevent fake profiles.
3. Reduced Verification Wait Times - Technological advancements may lead to shorter wait times for selfie verification, improving user experience.
Industry Implications
1. Online Dating - The online dating industry can benefit from selfie verification to enhance user trust and safety.
2. Mobile Applications - Mobile app developers can integrate selfie verification features to add an extra layer of security and authenticity.
3. Identity Verification - Identity verification services may expand their offerings to include selfie verification as a reliable authentication method.