Swipe right for… a job? Brits turning to dating apps to find new career opportunities

Dating apps are increasingly being used for networking and job-hunting purposes, new research has revealed.

One in 10 Brits admit that they turn to the likes of Tinder, Bumble and Plenty of Fish exclusively for networking/and or to find new employment. Additionally, nearly one in 10 people in the UK say they have their LinkedIn account connected to their dating profile.

The company’s research suggests that such tactics are proving fruitful for those looking for a new job: nearly six in 10 Brits (58%) say they have found success in networking on dating apps and websites.

The companies behind dating apps are also embracing this trend, with some launching sister platforms dedicated to networking, such as Bumble Bizz – a section of the app dedicated to finding business contacts. Bumble Bizz works in the same way as its dating counterpart but allows people to swipe right on profiles of businesses, recruiters and other professionals who work in the same industry.

As dating apps play a growing role in recruitment and networking, it leads to security implications. If those using dating apps for networking aren’t cautious about what information they share on their profile, the often highly private information can be used in a harmful manner. In fact, one in six people on dating apps say they have been the victim of doxing, the act of sharing personal information about an individual or organisation online, without their consent.

David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky, explains: “It makes sense that dating apps are playing an ever more important role in our professional lives – after all, there are millions of people using them on a regular basis, presenting a good opportunity to connect with the right people to advance our careers. But of course, the more information we share about ourselves online, the greater the risk we face that this information can be used in a harmful way. Sharing exact locations, religious beliefs, current place of employment or personal photos on such apps are all examples of the sort of data that can be used maliciously.

“Whether using dating apps for professional purposes, or dating itself, it’s wise to limit the amount of information shared on these platforms. Not connecting the app to your social media accounts is also recommended, so that if your app profile is compromised, an attacker doesn’t gain access to your social media online presence automatically.”