Tinder Fast Chat: Blind Date feature launched ahead of Valentine's Day; Know how it works

Since the season of love is on, online dating apps are coming up with surprises for singles to find their match ahead of Valentine's Day. In a recent update, dating application Tinder is expanding its portfolio of features giving members new ways to create connections by bringing back an old classic - the blind date. As per the information provided the latest feature is called Tinder 'Fast Chat: Blind Date' and is available in Explore. "Now available in Explore, Fast Chat: Blind Date is a new social experience that pairs members before allowing them to view each other's profile, making conversation, rather than photos, the first impression," Tinder said in a statement.

Tinder Blind Date is the latest addition to the popular suite of Fast Chat features on Tinder, all designed to help members connect faster through fun and innovative prompts and games. Members will only be able to view each other’s profiles and photos if they both decide to match after chatting, it added. However what needs to be noted is that Blind Date is now available in the U.S. only and it will be rolling out to Tinder members globally in the coming weeks.

The feature is inspired by the OG way to meet someone new, usually at the hand of a meddlesome aunt or well-meaning friend, Blind Date gives the daters of today a low-pressure way to put their personality first and find a match they truly vibe with.

As per the information provided by the application, in early testing, members who used the Tinder Blind Date feature made 40 percent more matches than those using another Fast Chat feature with profiles visible, showing a willingness among daters to interact - and ultimately match - with someone they may have overlooked in another setting.

Speaking on the same Kyle Miller, VP of Product Innovation at Tinder said, “We’ve all seen the mix of anticipation and excitement going on a blind date brought some of our favorite movie or TV characters, and we wanted to recreate that experience for today’s generation with the Blind Date feature.”

“There's something really special about letting conversation introduce someone’s personality, without the preconceptions that can be made from photos. The new Blind Date experience brings a surprisingly fun, banter-based way to interact and create connections that’s all new to Tinder,” he added.

Tinder Fast Chat: Blind Date- How it works

1. Members will answer a short series of icebreaker questions and be paired with one another based on commonalities.

2. They will then enter a timed chat, not knowing any details about the person on the other side of the screen aside from their answers to multiple-choice prompts like, “It’s OK to wear a shirt ____ times without washing it” and “I put ketchup on____.”

3. When the timer runs out, they can Like the other's profile, which will be revealed if there is a match, or they can choose to get paired with someone new.