Tinder has rolled out its premium subscription service, Tinder Select, priced at a whopping $499 per month, leaving users and the public bewildered. Launched on December 18, this “invite-only” tier claims to offer an enhanced dating experience with exclusive perks.

Tinder Select comes with features such as Direct Message, allowing users to send two messages per week without the need for a match, albeit with some limitations. Skip The Line ensures that profiles remain unblurred in the Likes You grid for seven days, even for users without a Gold or Platinum Tinder subscription. Additionally, members can display their exclusive status with a SELECT badge, visible to other users.

The subscription includes SELECT Mode, granting access to the “most sought-after” profiles on Tinder for potentially “more exceptional connections.” This “VIP Experience” is limited to less than 1% of users, to make sure users “receive the most exclusive experience possible.” Subscribers also gain early access to test upcoming features before the general user base.

Mark Van Ryswyk, Tinder’s chief product officer, highlighted extensive testing and feedback from loyal users, justifying the premium price tag. It’s unclear though which users he’s talking about. The announcement has triggered mostly posts mocking the new subscription tier on social media.

“Does it come with free bjs? Dafuq is $499 is worth for?“ one user asked on Threads.

Many others questioned the type of people who’d spend $499 a month or $6,000 per year — in this economy — on a dating app.

As of this writing, there’s no info yet on how many have subscribed to Tinder Select so far.

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