Coming soon to Tinder: a panic button

Tinder is adding a slate of new features for that nightmare scenario when a bad date turns downright scary — including a panic button that summons the cops.

Why this is a big deal: Physical safety IRL matters. (Thank you, Captain Obvious.) But really: If it’s so obvious, why have some tech companies not taken it more seriously?

They’re starting to listen — finally

Tinder’s parent company, the Match Group, is teaming up with a company called Noonlight to offer the panic button — it’s coming for American users at the end of January.

Tinder’s not the only app to go on an anti-creep offensive:

• Bumble launched an AI-powered “private detector” that acts like a private detective to automatically filter out pics of people’s…well, privates. (Sounds like a terrible job, but somebody has to do it.)
• Grindr offers protections for users who travel to countries where it’s unsafe or illegal to be LGBTQ.
• And Tinder’s own “traveler alerts” hide LGBTQ users’ profiles when they visit countries that punish same-sex relationships.

Tinder’s newest move will probably catch on like fire…

…because the Match Group owns so many dating apps that it’s practically Cupid. Those other apps will get the panic button in the coming months.