Update 12:26pm CT, April 4: Tinder is back online. A spokesperson for the company told the Daily Dot that a “technical issue” prevented users from logging in. The dating app claims to have found a resolution and now asks that users update their apps to the latest version.
Update 10:38am CT, April 4: Users on Thursday continue to complain about losing matches hours after the Facebook login bug.
https://twitter.com/enjolraz/status/981810565327802368
https://twitter.com/cgarbutt10/status/981785306805555201
As it stands, you should be able to recover your matches from the desktop version of the platform. We have reached out to Tinder and will update this article if we hear back.
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Changes meant to fix Facebook broke Tinder.
Updates made by Facebook to the types of data third-party apps can obtain from users crashed Tinder on Wednesday, preventing people from logging into the app. Instead of swiping left or right, users were pressing through an endless loop between the two apps.
On Tinder, users were greeted by a pop-up titled “Facebook permissions” when they tried to log in with Facebook credentials. It said the app requires users to allow additional Facebook permissions for it to create “fuller profiles, verify authenticity and provide support.” The only option was to press “Ask Me,” but that sent users back to another dialogue box asking them to log in once again.
The two companies released statements confirming the problem.
“A technical issue is preventing users from logging into Tinder. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to have everyone swiping again soon,” the dating app told the Verge Wednesday afternoon.
Similarly, Facebook said the problem was caused by changes it announced earlier today and promised to work with Tinder to create a fix.
The update Facebook made to its policies stems from the data crisis it finds itself in. The social giant has made wholesale changes to how it handles data since it was revealed that political data firm Cambridge Analytica exploited the personal information of 87 million users.
The bug caused headache (and heartache) for Tinder users who couldn’t access their profile and reconnect with matches.
https://twitter.com/sawahhhh_alyssa/status/981608965200056327
https://twitter.com/sarahduffy3323/status/981614819571879936
https://twitter.com/Harrieskiwis_/status/981621211120787456
I have a date tonight and I don’t have her number. This is a serious problem for me in case our plans change — I’ll have no way of knowing
— Max Davids (@maxxdavids) April 4, 2018
After the app was restored, several users reported logging in but losing all of their matches.
https://twitter.com/stephhbarbato/status/981632370586550273
LOL tinder went down, I lost all my matches, and now I’m just contemplating if this really is my time to cancel men👌🏻
— Ashhh; (@queeeeeeeeeenn_) April 4, 2018
@Tinder … Tinder, you ok hun? You seem to have deleted all my matches and future husbands. Can I claim compensation if I’m now single forever…..? pic.twitter.com/qJIUcE8pl7
— Hannah Beck (She/Her) (@ThisIsHannahC) April 4, 2018
For others, it’s the sort of push they needed to take a much-needed break from mobile dating.
My phone somehow logged me out of @Tinder and it won’t let me log back in. Honestly this probably for the best because not one woman I’ve met there wanted an actual relationship. Everyone’s afraid of commitment in this “just swipe right” culture
— David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙♂️🌈 (@David_Leavitt) April 4, 2018
either god or my fbi agent logged me out of tinder and i can’t log back on but it’s probably for the best
— leil 💀 (@leilalw) April 4, 2018
If you really need to get back to finding a match, you can still use the desktop version of the Tinder app where your matches should be waiting for you. And since Tinder doesn’t require that you build your profile using a social media account, you can always sign up with their phone number, though you’ll have to start from square one.