Tinder Launches Group Hangouts For Activity-based Meetups
Tinder’s new feature lets groups of at least three people discover other groups and make plans, starting in the U.S. and select markets.
Tinder is introducing Group Hangouts, an option for friends to connect with other groups and plan activities together rather than arrange a one-on-one date. The feature is rolling out in phases in the U.S. and select other markets, according to TechCrunch, with a broader release expected later.
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How Group Hangouts works
A user starts by choosing an activity and inviting at least two friends. Once three people have joined, the group’s profile can appear in Tinder’s main card stack for other groups to discover. TechCrunch reports that a group can have up to 15 members.
Members can browse other groups and indicate which ones interest them. If at least one person in each group likes the other group, Tinder opens a shared chat where everyone can discuss whether to meet and what to do. Users who have access to the feature can find it at the top of the app’s home screen.
Participants are not locked into a plan or conversation. TechCrunch says members can leave a hangout chat without leaving their friend group, and can block or report another participant. Engadget also reports that users can leave their group whenever they choose.
Building on Double Date
Group Hangouts extends Tinder’s Double Date feature, introduced last year, which lets two friends browse and match with other pairs. The new option accommodates larger groups and puts a shared activity at the center of the introduction.
According to figures Tinder shared with Engadget, about 90% of people who tried Double Date are under 30. Users who matched through it exchanged 35% more messages than other matches. Tinder sees those results as a sign that younger users may prefer meeting people alongside friends, with less pressure than a one-on-one first date. Engadget also reports that 40% of Group Hangouts invitations were accepted in initial tests in Australia.
A broader move toward in-person plans
TechCrunch places the launch alongside other efforts by Tinder to help users make plans offline. In March, the app introduced an Events tab for finding local activities, and this month it expanded its in-person events to dozens more cities. TechCrunch reports that Bumble has also introduced a feature called Plans for more casual, group-oriented meetings.
The launch comes during a difficult period for Tinder, according to TechCrunch: revenue declined in its latest quarter, while monthly active users fell 7% in the second quarter after an 8% decline in the preceding quarter. Group Hangouts gives users another way to connect, but the reports do not establish whether it will reverse those declines.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.