April Fool's or tall tale? Tinder users rage over 'new height verification'

Men will no longer be able to lie about how tall they are as online dating app Tinder announces it's going to add a height verification badge (HVB) to its service. Photo / 123rf

Men around the world are outraged after Tinder announced it's going to add a height verification badge (HVB) to its service.

Announced on March 29, men will no longer be able to lie about how tall they are on Tinder - but some are now sceptical it's an April Fool's joke.

The "feature" would require users to reveal their true height along with a photo of themselves standing next to a building so Tinder's algorithm could determine how tall the person is, the company said on social media.

If the height you programmed in matches the algorithm's measurements, a height verification badge will be added to your profile.

The company called their new feature the "thing you never asked for, but definitely always wanted".

Tinder claims it developed the HVB years ago, but hoped users would be honest.

"Introducing the thing you never asked for, but definitely always wanted-Tinder Height Verification." Photo / Tinder

"It's come to our attention that most of you 5-foot-10ers [1.7m] out there are actually 5-foot-6," the company said on their blog. "The charade must stop.

"This type of dishonesty doesn't just hurt your matches — it hurts us, too. Did it ever occur to you that we're 5'6 and actually love our medium height? Did it ever occur to you that honesty is what separates humans from sinister monsters? Of course not.

"Well, height-lying ends here. To require everyone under 6' to own up to their real height, we're bringing truthfulness back into the world of online dating."

Introducing the thing you never asked for, but definitely always wanted—Tinder Height Verification. Coming soon.
Read more about it here: https://t.co/8MER0L1U6W pic.twitter.com/hZ507zSoic

— Tinder (@Tinder) March 29, 2019

While some men are fearful, many have questioned the timing of the release with rumours it was intended to trigger users around the same time as April Fool's.

"Did someone queue up the April 1'st tweets incorrectly?" one person wrote.

Did someone queue up the April 1’st tweets incorrectly?

— Alexander baruta (@AlexanderBaruta) March 29, 2019

But this is too close to April Fool’s day for me to take seriously 😐

— Evan Edinger (@EvanEdinger) March 30, 2019

Despite the scepticism, the HVB has been met with outrage by men across the world with many feeling resentment about their height, while others have asked if they'll add in a weight verification badge.

Cool with this. Just add a weight verification as well for the ladies who love to show those old pics!

— Rick Golfs (@Rickgolfstx) March 29, 2019

Finally. I'm so sick and tired of matching with a girl who says shes 5"4 but when I meet her in person shes actually 8 stories tall and a crustacean from the plazazoic era who needs about three dollars and fifty cents

— Quiggly Quad-tits (@Burniedankers) March 29, 2019

Weight verification

— Kasin Garber (@chunkyGorrila) March 29, 2019

I wasn’t getting any matches before and now you’re absolutely sabotaging every hope I have for some in the future. This is disgusting and I will not stand for it.

— 100T Nadeshot (@Nadeshot) March 30, 2019

While many asked for weight verification, one person believes they should include both verifications for all.

"Why not both settings for everyone? Some men are turned off by taller women, and some women are turned off by fatter men," they wrote.