6 chapters across the catalog
A sophisticated extortion scam targeting users on the dating app Hinge involves "catfishing" victims with explicit photos before a fake "father" or "police officer" threatens legal action. Scammers claim the girl involved is a minor and demand payment to avoid sex offender registration. Law enforcement reports that older women are also frequently targeted by "romance scams" involving fake celebrity profiles, such as a recent case involving a Brad Pitt impersonator.
A story about a woman running a Hinge account for her male friend reveals the extreme difficulty men face on dating apps. This leads to a theory about "trans-maxing," where young men who cannot find romantic success as males seek validation by transitioning or adopting female personas online. The hosts warn parents about the dangers of "hypno-porn" and the isolation of the digital dating world.
A social experiment involved a woman running a man's Hinge account for three days, leading to her feeling "depressed" and "hating women" due to the lack of engagement. The experiment highlighted the extreme difficulty men face on dating apps compared to women. The hosts jokingly link this frustration to broader societal shifts and the "trans Maoist revolution."
The Biden administration partnered with major dating apps including Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge to promote COVID-19 vaccinations among young adults. These platforms now offer badges for vaccinated users and premium content incentives, citing data from OkCupid that vaccinated individuals receive 14% more matches. Critics describe the move as a desperate attempt to leverage "fear of missing out" (FOMO) to reach the 70% adult vaccination goal.
Dating App Data, Privacy Risks and Chinese Ownership
An investigation into dating apps like Hinge and Grindr revealed the massive amount of personal data collected, including exact locations, chat messages, and HIV status. European transparency laws allowed users to see files spanning hundreds of pages. National security concerns were specifically raised regarding Grindr's ownership by the Chinese company Kunlun Tech and the potential for that data to be accessed by the Chinese government.
A personal story about being recognized from a Tinder profile in a local Austin health food store leads to a discussion on the privacy implications of dating apps. The app Hinge is noted for its integration with Facebook to show mutual friends, which is described as "creepy."
