5 ms·

I use Grindr very often and would love to support them more, except for that every single aspect of the company and their product epitomizes unethical business

I use Grindr very often and would love to support them more, except for that every single aspect of the company and their product epitomizes unethical business practice. Their adaptive pricing model is extremely exploitative and the app directly lies to users to convince them to purchase boosts. They're enacting return to office mandates as a response to workers unionizing (who haven't even made formal requests yet except to have a union rep on the board of directors, which is not unusual or unreasonable). Also the app crashes every day and consumes the same amount of power as a household of four.

rahimnathwani 3y ago
to have a union rep on the board of directors, which is not unusual It is extremely unusual in the US, where Grindr is based.
graypegg 3y ago
There are alternatives! (Scruff, sniffies, squirt) Thankfully the “let me chat with people, shown in a list by order of proximity, with some custom filters” is basically a weekend project worth of work. Seen quite a few alternative apps (and web apps!) pop up over the past few years.
- lopis 3y ago
  Saying there are alternatives to Grindr is like saying there are alternatives to reddit or Instagram. I don't think I need to explain HN the meaning of network effect. In many places around the world all other apps are literally empty.
  - graypegg 3y ago
    Not really in my experience? People aren’t very picky about the app they use, and many people I know (me included) will keep profiles on 2-3. Totally possible this is only a thing here? (Canada, Toronto / Montréal) I have a feeling it’s pretty common though.
wkat4242 3y ago
Grindr's particular purpose is not my thing. However, I do use another app/site (fetlife) which very much is aligned with my particular interest. I'm so glad the owners of that platform are super ethical and genuine. You don't even have to pay for anything, except for viewing material from people you don't know. Everything about it conveys the message that they built it to support the community, not to get rich. I support them financially anyway. Because I want a platform with such values to stick around. I recently was on another app that was being promoted locally ("fet") and that was just like grindr. Everything is blocked in the app, you have to pay for everything. Screw that. It feels like they take the community hostage. I'm so glad we have fetlife.

rahimnathwani 3y ago

to have a union rep on the board of directors, which is not unusual It is extremely unusual in the US, where Grindr is based.

graypegg 3y ago

There are alternatives! (Scruff, sniffies, squirt) Thankfully the “let me chat with people, shown in a list by order of proximity, with some custom filters” is basically a weekend project worth of work. Seen quite a few alternative apps (and web apps!) pop up over the past few years.

lopis 3y ago
Saying there are alternatives to Grindr is like saying there are alternatives to reddit or Instagram. I don't think I need to explain HN the meaning of network effect. In many places around the world all other apps are literally empty.
- graypegg 3y ago
  Not really in my experience? People aren’t very picky about the app they use, and many people I know (me included) will keep profiles on 2-3. Totally possible this is only a thing here? (Canada, Toronto / Montréal) I have a feeling it’s pretty common though.

wkat4242 3y ago

Grindr's particular purpose is not my thing. However, I do use another app/site (fetlife) which very much is aligned with my particular interest. I'm so glad the owners of that platform are super ethical and genuine. You don't even have to pay for anything, except for viewing material from people you don't know. Everything about it conveys the message that they built it to support the community, not to get rich. I support them financially anyway. Because I want a platform with such values to stick around. I recently was on another app that was being promoted locally ("fet") and that was just like grindr. Everything is blocked in the app, you have to pay for everything. Screw that. It feels like they take the community hostage. I'm so glad we have fetlife.