Privacy on Your Terms: Grindr's User-Centric Approach

At Grindr, earning and maintaining your trust is among our highest priorities. We understand that for many in the LGBTQ+ community, discretion is essential. Whether you're in one of the 60+ countries where being gay is still a crime, or you simply value your privacy, you need to know your personal information is secure. Our commitment to privacy goes beyond mere compliance—it's a fundamental promise we make to each and every user. 

There's been a lot of talk lately about how social networks and dating apps use your data. We want to be crystal clear about what information we collect from you, our users, and how we use it.

Grindr’s approach to privacy is anchored in three core principles:

1. Transparency

At Grindr, we believe in robust transparency when it comes to how your data is treated. Our privacy policy offers heightened transparency compared to other dating apps, giving you full visibility into how we use your information. We commit to clarity and simplicity, avoid complex legal jargon, and help you understand how data works on the Grindr app. 

Our layout intuitively presents the most important information to you. If you need details on how Grindr shares information, there's a tab for that. To learn about information collection, there’s a tab for that. Finally, we list our third-party partners, including all advertising partners—a rarity in the dating app space—under its own tab for your review.

2. Data Minimization

Creating a Grindr account requires very little personal information—you only need to provide an email or social media login and a birthdate to confirm that you are an adult—which is not stored with your profile. Grindr users decide what, if any, information to put in their profile. Users control how open or discreet they want their Grindr experience to be.

We operate only one app—Grindr—therefore, your personal information and activity is not shared across other apps or websites controlled by Grindr the company. Your Grindr profile information is for display within the Grindr community only. Therefore, you can choose whether to display your health information like HIV and vaccination status on your profile—but these fields are not required. Users can choose to include health-related information in their profile, which they can remove at any time. Grindr does not store historical records of this information, and we never share it with advertisers.

3. User Control

At Grindr, user control is at the heart of our privacy practices. No matter where you're located, you can get a copy of your personal information on Grindr and access tools to manage it. While many dating apps only provide these controls in certain jurisdictions where it’s legally required, we believe everyone deserves the same access rights. That's why we offer such privacy choices to all our users worldwide.

You can request a detailed copy of the personal data we hold at any time. You're also free to delete or modify your profile information whenever you want. And if you choose to close your account entirely, we'll delete your data from our systems per our Privacy Policy.

Let’s talk about ads. We don’t share your profile information with advertising partners. Additionally, we have never and will never sell data about your HIV status or any other self-reported health information. 

Furthermore, Grindr users control whether they receive personalized advertisements. Even when users say yes to personalized ads, Grindr shares the minimum levels of information required to enable those ads to be delivered: mobile advertising ID, device details (e.g., make/model), and IP address.

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Your personal information is just that—personal. And in a world where data is so valuable, you need to know that yours is in safe hands. We use advanced security measures to protect your data, and we prioritize data minimization, focusing on collecting what is needed to make Grindr work and give you the best, curated experience.

Every day, we're working to create a space where you can authentically connect with others and explore the queer world around you—without worrying about your privacy or safety. We know those are real concerns, and that’s why we remain fully committed to protecting your data and providing you with an industry-leading platform where you can make meaningful connections and express yourself freely.