“Dating apps can be racist,” says tech expert – Y

Following allegations by some US women that they face discrimination on the dating app Hinge, technology expert Arthur Goldstuck agrees that dating apps can be racist.

In a series of TikTok videos, the women accused the app’s algorithm of intentionally relegating them to the bottom of the dating pool, resulting in a limited selection of potential matches.

Despite a Pew Research study showing that Black and Hispanic women use dating apps the most, they claim to receive the fewest likes and engagement.

In an interview with TSR Investigates, singleton Katavia James revealed that after changing her race to white on her profile, she noticed a significant improvement in the quality of her matches.

@1stplacedaj personally im against it #blackdating #hinge #hingedating #datingappsblackwomen ♬ original sound – ☆ Da’Janique ☆

Speaking with YNews, Goldstuck explained that dating apps are programmed by people, who inherently build their biases into their work.

“The people who create these apps are usually white and male, and they perpetuate their biases towards white, Western ideals of the perfect match,” he told YNews.

“The algorithms are also based on what people typically look for, and in America, most users are white men who may not be open to a multicultural experience.”

Goldstuck suggests that to make dating apps more inclusive, more women and people of color need to be involved in their development.