Scruff Announces Racially-Inclusive Updates

Dating in the digital age is difficult enough. It doesn't help that most apps are filled with body shaming, femme shaming, transphobia, and racism.

Grindr recently announced an initiative to address these issues. Kindr will launch September 19, bringing education, awareness, and policy changes to the app. It will be a first step in fostering a more inclusive environment within its online community.

"Grindr has a new suite of queer leadership - myself included - who share this same mission to take much-needed action, make impactful changes in the app and use Grindr's enormous power to do good for greater LGBTQ+ community," Grindr told The Advocate.

Scruff is the latest gay dating app to join this digital age revolution. In the past, they've required users to list their ethnicity, which only benefits sexual racism. Now, the app is doing away with this feature.

They also announced that they'll no longer use programmatic advertising. Instead, they'll only work with queer-friendly advertising partners, including non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, health institutes, and travel/lifestyle brands. This comes after Facebook faced scrutiny for targeting LGBTQ users with "gay cure" ads.

These are just the latest in a trend of socially-conscious online dating. Apps like Bumble, Chappy, and the League have taken their niche users into consideration with various features that offer a more personalized experience. And with Facebook getting ready to launch their new online dating feature, it appears the landscape for digital romance is just beginning to evolve.