Frances B.

I have been on Match for a short time, and have already encountered many issues with the app. Some of them are annoying, some really concerning.

First, the app seems to be designed to up-sell services. When you sign up for basic service, you have seemingly infinite access to "discovery" (which is flipping through available, presumably edited, profiles). But that doesn't last. After some weeks on the site, you are allowed a limited number of views before it closes down. The message comes up that you have to wait for your next set of matches. But you can upgrade to boost you profile, and views, for a fee! I am constantly offered upgrades. I can pay for "super likes" (this service was offered while I was viewing a profile that was too good to be true, and which I suspect was just a fake, presented as bait), primary placement during high-view hours, etc. It's ridiculous and annoying.

Second, the algorithm ignores my preference parameters. I specified men who have at least a college degree, are within a specific age bracket, and live within X miles of me. I am constantly presented with "matches" who live many hours away, have no degree, and who otherwise fall way outside my parameters.

Third, even though Match brags about their safety measures, they seem to have no way to follow up when one reports a member for any reason. I have encountered some very dodgy men on Match. Only one was concerning enough that I reported him. I have exchanged several emails about this man with Match support. The case has even been escalated. But all they do is ask me, repeatedly, for the man's contact information — real name, address, phone number, etc. This is for a man whom I met, and with whom corresponded, on their dating app. I never never met him in person, or had contact outside of the app. I never even did a video chat with him (a service on the Match app). Just messaging. Why would I have that personal information? Match should have it.

FYI, what this man was doing was trying to find out where I live. He was doing that in a careful, "grooming" sort of manipulative give and take, claiming that he once lived in my area and describing things around here. Then he would ask whether I lived close to that specific thing, and he'd ask for physical details of my neighborhood. It got creepy and alarming really quickly, so I contacted Match.

I've met men on Match who have been using the app for a decade. It can be a very sad place. I'm sure there are good people on there, and you may luck out and find a potential partner. But my experience has not been good. I am thinking of canceling my subscription.

In summary, my experience with Match is that they exist primarily to up-sell subscription services and extras, their matching algorithm is poorly designed and inadequate, and they have no real or effective way to protect users from bad actors on the site.

Women who are looking for men, beware. I wish you luck in your search. Take care of yourselves.