If you have seen any dystopian science fiction movie then you are fully aware of the world we are living in and what it will look like in the future. As LGBTQ people, daily we are watching the United States slowly strip away basic human rights and protections from us. It doesn’t stop with the American government. The very apps that we use for meeting new people and hooking up are selling our data to interested third parties for tracking purposes, and not for marketing research. The world seems hell bent on marginalizing and tracking us when and where it can.
While changing laws takes more than one person, there are things that you can do to ensure your identity and online information stays safe and secure, that comes from only trusting companies who value your data as much as you do. It pains me to say that almost every popular dating app on the market does some dark things with your data and we, as users, need to change that. But how? Well, we can start by only using apps that do not store or even ask for our personal data, like u2nite.
Wait, you haven’t heard of u2nite? For how the company started and why they are passionate about our safety, check out the u2nite article I wrote back in May of 2022. Join me as we discuss U2nite: A deep dive into the security of LGBTQ+ dating apps.
The dark side of dating apps
We have to address the elephant in the room. No dating app is 100% safe and you are the biggest commodity that businesses and hackers want. Data is the name of the game. Many apps force you to give them your name, email, approximate location, and a wealth of personal data that even your own mother may not fully know. Have you ever asked or cared why? That data is how they make money, not your subscriptions fees – that’s just a bonus.
We all think our personal lives are only our business but in today’s world, that simply is not the truth. Every company out there wants to make money and they do that by knowing what drives you, then there are those groups that want to eliminate what they consider “bad people” from their ranks. That is where your data comes in.
An article in the Washington Post went into deep detail how a local conservative Catholic group in Denver, Colorado paid a non-profit to acquire data from gay dating apps about priests that use those apps. That group is called Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal.
In 2021, Grindr was fined 8.5 million pounds (approx $11 million) dollars for selling user data to other companies without their consent, That information included ate, location, gender, and orientation. There was no clear indication as to who this information was sold to, but as the app is global, even countries where being LGBTQ is still illegal could have bought it for tracking citizens. Is that such a far stretch to believe? Russia is actively working to eliminate its LGBTQ citizens. This should concern each of us as it seem even the United States is on a dark path to remove any protections and safety our community has.
While we cannot get rid of (and don’t want to) online dating apps, is there any recourse for us, users? That is where the app u2nite wants to be your next favorite app.
u2nite: A brief history
u2nite burst onto an already filled dating scene, in 2016. It’s goal was to disrupt all of the current LGBTQ dating app players. And how exactly did it want to do that, you may ask?
- u2nite aimed to fill a perceived gay in the market – a secure and privacy-focused dating app for the entire LGBTQ+ community.
- The developers threw out all previous ideas of existing apps and decided to create one that focused on optimizing the end user experience and prioritizing safety.
The creators of u2nite decided that the core functionality of their app had to be different than any that came before it. They decided to take some of the key features many apps use and make them much more secure. u2nite divided the world in to location cells that are based on where the user says they are, unlike apps like Sniffies.com. This can allow a user to preview a location they may be going to so they can get an idea of what that area has to offer and better yet, this allows you to stay safer online since your exact location is never entered. When you create your account, you give a general location of where you are so the map can populate other hit points in your area.Â
u2nite’s creators disliked how most apps collect every data point possible for marketing purposes. Instead, they decided to allow users to create profiles with basic information, personality details, and photos. No email is needed, age is only added, if you choose to.
When it came to communication, u2nite realized that most apps did not encrypt communication between users. This would allow anyone to be able to intercept it and use it for their own purposes. All text and video based communication is encrypted end-to-end on the devices.Â
When you want to meet someone, u2nite has your safety in mind, as well. They advise on meeting someone new in a public place, first. This way you can establish your safety and help avoid the awkwardness that often comes from having a trick just show up at your house. The “Let’s Meet” function utilizes geolocation data to suggest safe public places for you and other users to meet, displaying the location on a map. This feature is particularly useful for travelers within the gay community who may not be familiar with their surroundings, such as visiting New York City for the first time. It provides a sense of security by recommending suitable meeting spots, enhancing the overall experience of connecting with others while ensuring safety, especially in unfamiliar environments.
Their focus on safety is like none other. u2nite boasts robust data protection measures, claiming not to collect or share data with third parties. Better yet, all of your data is localized to your phone and not some server hosting it for its own uses. This is a significant differentiator in the data-hungry world of social media and dating apps.
You may be curious as to what some of those safety features they boast about, actually are? Take a look at these and see how much safety is a concern for their user base and operation.
- Data Encryption: u2nite employs advanced encryption technology to protect user data and conversations.
- Anonymity: Users can choose nicknames and hide certain profile details for added privacy.
- Location Obfuscation: The imprecise location sharing reduces the risk of stalking or misuse.
- Public Meeting Places: Encouraging first-time encounters in public spaces promotes physical safety.
- Reporting System: Users can report inappropriate behavior or suspicious activity within the app.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
All of this sounds so amazing, so you are probably left wondering why you haven’t heard about it, other than my previous article two years ago. The simple truth is that there are roughly, between Apple and Google’s respective stores, 5 million apps available to download. It seems every month there is a new dating app and that means hearing about one specific app is much harder to do.
That means good apps may not be heard about for long periods of time. If users are not downloading them, then there isn’t a user base to choose from. If you are the person who happened to download an app and you see no one is on it around you, it is far easier to delete it and go for something that appears more popular. As LGBTQ people, we should be shaping and demanding creators to make apps that have what we want and we should be pushing what is popular. If an app offers more safety and protections for its users, we should be lining up to take advantage of it.
The Good
Account creation is super easy and barely an inconvenience. Just download the app and open it. Fill out a little data, add a picture, and you can start viewing who’s in your area. No worries about some random server hosting your data, its all kept on your device. Are you traveling in the near future? u2nite has you covered. Your location can be changed at any moment, since it is not stored on some server. You can check out people and what there is to do before you get there.
Many dating apps only allow you to upload a few pictures, u2nite allow you to upload as many as you want, so you can capture the perfect you for all to see. And the best part is that all of these features are free, you dont have to worry about another monthly charge to your bank account. Now you can log in, find your match, and have more money to spend on that first date.Â
I love all of the safety features that u2nite gives us. The revamps to the app offer a cleaner user experience than their past iterations and the fact that someone cannot see the street I live on, I’m looking at you Sniffies.com, gives me a bit more peace of mind.Â
The Bad
The only real bad I have to say about this app is that it is still very light in the American usages scene. Checking out larger cities like Chicago, New York, and San Francisco will give you more hits but Cleveland, Ohio doesnt. That is where we come in. We need to be dedicated to safer online environments and laud those companies who align with us and our safety. The more of us who start using this app, the more people that will show up in our searches.
The Ugly
As I mentioned in the opening of this article, there is no 100% safe online dating app out there. That is where you come in, use your head and common sense when it comes to meeting people online. Make sure you are meeting in a public place first, have them send you a picture – besides the one in their profile – to ensure they are a real person. Never give out personal data about yourself. Save your address until you have proven the person is real and safe, unless your hormones get the best of you, first. Remember to think with the head on your shoulders.
The Verdict
U2nite positions itself as a secure and privacy-conscious alternative to mainstream dating apps. While its user base might not be as extensive as some competitors, it caters specifically to the LGBTQ+ community and prioritizes user safety. If privacy and data security are top concerns, U2nite is the best option. However, it’s important to remember that no online platform is 100% risk-free. If you want more, check out their video.
So, what do you think? Are you tired of these dating apps that dont are about your safety and information? Are you ready for an app that is made for our community, by our community? Maybe you only want a little fun every now and then and dont care about the details, let me know in the comments below. Tell me what you think about the apps you use, what U2nite offers, or just your experiences in using online dating apps.
Gay in the CLE 