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Key Takeaways:
- Tinder requires a phone number to verify your account, and you will likely want to go off-app at some point while online dating.
- You can use a burner phone number on Tinder to protect yourself, avoid scammers, preserve your privacy, and more.
- Burner app allows you to create additional phone numbers to use for anything, including Tinder. It’s a way of connecting to people on Tinder safely and easily with no inconvenience.
There are plenty of fish in the sea, as the old saying goes. But most of those fish go back in the water shortly after you catch them, especially when you’re fishing with dating apps.
And the last thing you want is one of those fish to know exactly where to find your fishing boat even after you’ve moved on. Especially if you’ve moved on with another fish, and that old fish is flopping all over your boat weeks later, no matter how many times you’ve told them that you’ve retired your fishing rod.
Okay, let’s drop the metaphor. If you’re on Tinder, you don’t want to feel limited in how you connect and communicate with people. But sharing your number is a bigger deal than it seems. That’s where a virtual number comes in handy.
Why Do You Need a Phone Number for Tinder?
There are two main reasons you’ll need a phone number to use Tinder. For one, Tinder requires a phone number to sign up for the app. This seems pretty reasonable on its face.
It’s a way for the app to verify that you’re only using one account and that you’re not some kind of bot creating hundreds of accounts and destroying everyone’s romantic hopes and dreams. At least, it’s a way for the app to make it harder for those bots to create an account, because let’s be honest — we all know they exist.
You can’t simply use a made-up number to create your account, either. Tinder will send you a confirmation message, like a Google verification text, to ensure you’re really the number’s owner.
The second reason you need a phone number to use Tinder is simply that the whole goal in using the app is to meet someone off of the app. It’s common for users to ask to move their conversation to text or Whatsapp at some stage.
It’s a standard show of trust and progression in your dating app experience, so even if you get around the account creation requirements, you do need a phone number to succeed in the online dating world.
Why Use a Virtual Number for Tinder?
Despite the proliferation of other dating apps, Tinder remains the most popular, with 46% of online daters admitting to using it at some point. Despite being so ubiquitous — or maybe because of it — there are some significant risks to using Tinder.
Using a virtual or fake number for Tinder can help minimize these risks, without minimizing your dating pool. These are the best reasons for getting a custom phone number when using dating apps.
To Protect Yourself
While many dating apps require users to confirm that they’re not, say, a sex offender in order to register, all apps also require users to accept responsibility for their interactions on the app. So, even if someone lies in filling out their profile, the app company itself can’t be blamed for the fallout.
Ending up on a date with a sex offender is a worst-case scenario. Realistically, your biggest disappointments will be meeting someone who is mean to servers. Or someone who definitely needs to see a therapist before unleashing themselves on the public ever again.
Even still, sharing your number with somebody means they have access to you, even if you’ve decided you’d rather go your separate ways. By using a virtual number for these convos, you can take things off the app without worrying about it endangering your safety or sanity.
To Avoid Scammers
Romance scams run rampant on Tinder. It’s not just obvious bots. Dating apps are a great way for fraudsters to identify lonely, vulnerable people and take advantage of them.
Unfortunately, some of these scammers are pretty sophisticated. It’s all too easy to find yourself getting catfished, or else feeling suspicious that the person you’ve just matched with is too good to be true.
While you should stay vigilant for signs of these scams, using a virtual number helps, too. It puts some distance between your personal information and your phone number. Scammers won’t be able to look you up by your phone number. It also makes it easy to block scammers and delete your phone number if you’ve realized the person you’re texting isn’t genuine.
To Preserve Your Privacy
Using a virtual number on dating apps doesn’t just protect your personal details from scammers. It also protects you from other users. Look, it’s the twenty-first century — just about everybody googles the person they’re going on an app date with before they meet up.
Mostly, it’s a harmless habit. But sometimes, it can be more nefarious. If someone looks you up using your phone number, they can find out where you live. Suddenly, mentioning that you’re going away for a weekend could become a liability.
They can find information about your professional life. This leaves you vulnerable to people who might take advantage of you if you’re successful or work in a field they’re interested in. It can also be a safety risk if the person you’ve shared your number with isn’t trustworthy.
Your phone number can tie you to family members, too. This means that sharing your phone number with a stranger online isn’t just a risk to you but also to your loved ones. A virtual number allows you to text with a potential date from Tinder without worrying about unexpected repercussions later.
To Help Yourself Relax!
All of these scenarios are unlikely, but that doesn’t make them any less stressful to consider. Especially if you’re new to the world of dating apps, it can be nerve-wracking when someone asks you to move things off the app for the first time.
On one hand, you might think you have a genuine connection with that person. On the other hand, there are all of these risks we’ve just mentioned. If you refuse to share your phone number, the other person might see that as a lack of interest or trust. But if you say yes and the other person does have ulterior motives, it can be a huge problem.
Using a custom phone number takes the worry out of the process. Knowing you’re protected means you can truly relax and focus on the process. It’s much more fun that way. Trust us.
But Is It Weird?
If you’re worried that using a fake number for Tinder is the red flag you’re trying to avoid, don’t. There are some reasons to have a fake number we can’t get behind, but there are also many totally legitimate safety reasons, like the ones we listed, to keep your information private.
If you’re wondering how to tell the guy you’ve met on Tinder and have now been dating for six months that he doesn’t actually have your real phone number, well, we can’t help you there. We’d suggest you give him your real digits sometime between now and your wedding vows.
How Do You Get a Virtual Number for Tinder?
This is an easy one. You get a Burner phone. Not a cheap flip phone from a sketchy backstreet shop. Our app allows you to create additional phone numbers to use for anything, including Tinder.
You can access your calls and texts from our app. No need to buy an additional phone plan or a second device. You can specify your area code, too. So, you don’t need to worry about looking inauthentic to any potential match.
Your extra numbers are there when you need them, and are easy to delete when you don’t. It’s a way of connecting to people on Tinder safely and easily with no inconvenience.
FAQs
Can you hide your number on Tinder?
Tinder doesn’t share phone numbers publicly. While you can block users by syncing your contacts, you can’t use contacts to search for specific profiles. Additionally, Tinder uses two-step verification, so no one else can log into your account using your phone number.
How do I go ghost mode on Tinder?
To disable Discovery:
- Sign in to the Tinder app or Tinder.com.
- Tap the profile icon.
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll to Enable Discovery.
- Turn the toggle off.
Can people see if I am active on Tinder?
When you see “Online Now” on recommended profiles, it shows they've been active on Tinder in the last two hours. If you don't want to share your status, you can opt out.
Swipe Right on Protecting Yourself
Protecting yourself online is more complicated than ever. There are so many ways for third parties to take advantage of innocuous-seeming information, like your phone number. At the same time, more of our lives are lived online than ever before, even when it comes to dating.
If you want to use Tinder but don’t want to risk your personal information, a virtual number is the way to go. It allows you to create and verify your account. You can text and call with matches without worry.
And on the off chance that things get weird, you can delete that number like it never existed. Try Burner today to date online without all the stress.
Sources:
If You’re Looking for Love Online, Here’s What to Know About Dating App Safety | TIME
Key Findings About Online Dating in the US | Pew Research Center
Romance Scams: How To Protect Yourself Online | Tinder Newsroom
