Tinder is introducing a feature allowing friends and family to recommend profiles to you, but many think it’s just going to be a lot of failed matchmaking. 

Tinder Matchmaker allows people to recommend profiles for users without them needing to download the app or create a Tinder account. 

Users can send an invitation to matchmake 15 times a day, allowing them to swipe through profiles and recommend dates. 

Reporter Henry McKean told The Hard Shoulder Tinder are trying to bring back “old-fashioned matchmaking”. 

“Young people have got so much choice these days,” he said. 

Henry spoke to a few lovebirds and singletons about whether they think an online matchmaker is the best way to find someone. 

One man, who met his girlfriend on Tinder, said dating lives should be kept private from friends and family. 

“I usually don't tell anybody until we have a couple of dates,” he said. 

“Getting your family or friends involved at the start, it's not for me because it'd be a pretty private person.” 

'I could've had some intervention'

A different woman said she wasn’t a fan of Tinder and was “eager to get off it”. 

“Modern dating has just really gone down the toilet,” she said. 

“It’s just a casual one or two-day thing and then you’re dropped, or they lose interest. 

“I probably could’ve done with some intervention from my mam and dad a couple of times – I wouldn’t have made some bad choices.” 

Old couple scrolling through phone. Image: Jacek Makowicz / Alamy Stock Photo

Another woman said she is “fussy” with people and wouldn’t trust her friends’ choices. 

“My friends would just get me with someone I wouldn’t like at all,” she said. 

“They might do it as a joke, but then it'd be really awkward.” 

'They could be offended'

Matchmaking expert Fergal Harrington echoed her fears that letting your friends find you someone could have unfortunate consequences. 

“Say for instance Elaine is looking for someone and her friend Bridie finds her a match,” he explained. 

“The match may not be as attractive as to what Elaine feels she could get, so you could be offending people. 

Tinder. Image: Cyberstock / Alamy Stock Photo

“You could also be setting her up for a failure if the guy doesn't actually feel the same way about her... if the dates happen and it doesn't work out, who's the fall guy?” 

Mr Harrington said being single when you don’t want to be is hard enough without getting more people involved in your search. 

“I don’t want my mother or father on Tinder,” he said. 

“Things do go on, pictures get sent, and they're not always appreciated.” 

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