Tinder will now let users block people using their phone numbers

‘Tinder has a new feature that blocks your blocked contacts & I’ve never been so pleased,’ one user writes

(AFP via Getty Images)

Tinder is being praised after unveiling its latest feature, which allows users to block people from showing up on the app with their phone number.

The new aspect of the app, called the Block Contacts feature, also means that those using the dating platform can ensure that their profile isn’t seen by colleagues, or anyone else they wish to avoid.

“Whether it’s a former flame, a cousin, or a colleague, just about everyone has a personal connection they’d rather not run into when dipping their toe in the dating pool,” Tinder explained in a press release.

According to the app, it decided to implement the feature following a survey that revealed 78 per cent of users were interested in blocking personal contacts on the app.

To use the new feature, users will have to navigate to their profile settings, where they can either input their contact lists or add the numbers of people they would prefer not to see individually.

For those who wish to load their full contact lists, Tinder said that it will only store the contacts of those who the user wishes to block - and that the blocked individual will not be notified.

The app also noted that the block will apply whether the contact already has a Tinder profile or if they create one in the future using that number.

“We may not be able to save you from awkward run-ins at the coffee shop, but we are giving you more control over your experience on Tinder,” Bernadette Morgan, group product manager, trust & safety at Tinder said. “We’re rolling out Block Contacts as an additional resource empowering members with peace of mind by helping create a worry-free space for them to spark new connections.”

On social media, the dating app’s feature has been met with approval, with one person tweeting: “Tinder has a new feature that blocks your blocked contacts & I’ve never been so pleased.”

Another person said: “You can block specific people from seeing you on Tinder now it really is a hot girl summer.”

However, others pointed out that the feature could make it easier for individuals in relationships to cheat on their partners, with someone else writing: “Bro Tinder lets you block contacts now ... so if you’re on there cheating you may just be able to get away with it and that part sucks.”