Safer online dating alliance

Swipe right for safety: keeping dating app users out of trouble

On the evening of December 17, , year-old Sydney teacher, Danielle Finlay-Jones became the 49 th woman lost that year to domestic and family violence in Australia. Finlay-Jones also joined the growing list of women who have lost their lives at the hands of someone they had met via a dating app. Her case prompted Government concern unseen in the wake of prior tragedies in Australia or abroad. This culminated in a roundtable discussion convened by the Ministers for Communications and Social Services to examine what could be done to improve safety for Australians using online dating platforms. On Monday this week, the Albanese Government affirmed their position, issuing the dating app industry an ultimatum: improve safety for Australian users by developing a voluntary code of practice, or face legislative action. This is a welcome — if overdue — federal push, holding the dating app industry to account for their role in perpetuating violence against women and other marginalised populations. Users are subjected to a spectrum of abuse in digital dating contexts, which ranges from online sexual harassment, stalking and image-based-sexual abuse, to in-person violence such as sexual assault and coercion and reproductive and sexual health related abuse, for example, stealthing. Recent data from the Australian Institute of Criminology suggests that this violence is experienced by three in four users. Dating apps combat these harms with various strategies, primarily through their internal safety policies and features designed to enforce them. However, while many apps like Bumble and industry leader Match Group employ these methods, there is no uniformity across the industry, nor a benchmark for safety that platforms must meet.

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Sometimes a phone call is too dangerous. Sometimes an in-person visit is out of the question. We launched the SAFEline chat last year so people in abusive situations like hers have another safe, secure, confidential way to get the help they need.

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Click the icon above to begin. Our CPD-Certified course for school staff covers online risks to pupils, staff use of digital devices, statutory requirements and more. Click the icon above to learn more.

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Is the government’s ultimatum to dating apps enough to make them safer?

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