Tinder App Stops Operations in Russia

The parent company of the dating apps "Tinder" and "Hinge" announced the cessation of its operations in Russia, more than a year after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Match Group stated that its brands are taking steps to "restrict access" to the services and will fully withdraw from the Russian market by June 30. This announcement follows the withdrawal of many global companies from Russia after the invasion in February 2022. The American company made this announcement in its annual report on Tuesday, adding that it is "committed to protecting human rights." In the weeks following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, several Western companies largely announced the suspension of their activities in Russia or a complete withdrawal. Amid increasing consumer pressure, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and Heineken announced they would sever ties. Match Group, which includes other dating platforms like Plenty of Fish, has made some public statements about its operations in Russia. However, the company, which employs over 2,700 staff worldwide, pointed to negative impacts on its European operations as of March 2022, according to Reuters. Match Group claims that Tinder is "the most popular app in the world for meeting new people."