Add Category
Updated
Angry Tinder users have taken to Twitter to complain they were locked out of their accounts after Facebook changed its settings following the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
"A technical issue is preventing users from logging into Tinder. We apologise for the inconvenience and are working to have everyone swiping again soon," Tinder tweeted this morning.
Other users appeared able to log in, but could not access information including their matches and messages.
Facebook confirmed in an email that it was trying to fix the problem.
"This was part of the changes that we announced today, and we are working with Tinder to address this issue," a spokesperson told Mashable.
Tinder tweeted three hours later that the problem was fixed — but for those desperate to keep swiping, it was a long wait.
The problems with the dating app appeared to be related to changes the social media platform made to the way in which third-party apps access data.
One of the ways users can log into Tinder includes accessing it through Facebook, so it can access information on their profiles.
Facebook has been reviewing the way such information can be accessed and by whom after allegations that a Trump-affiliated data mining firm Cambridge Analytica had obtained ill-gotten data from millions of users.
Initial reports said 50 million Facebook profiles were obtained by a researcher using an app that collected the data of people who were paid to take a personality test, and the data of their Facebook friends — but Facebook revealed this morning the number was actually more like 87 million.
Facebook's changes in response to the scandal appeared to stop Tinder from getting access to the information it obtains from its users — including their logins.
With outsiders' access to data under scrutiny, Facebook has outlined several changes to further tighten its policies, including restricting access that apps can get about users' events, as well as information about groups such as member lists and content.
In addition, the company is also removing the option to search for users by entering a phone number or an email address. While this helped individuals find friends, Facebook said businesses that had phone or email information on customers were able to collect profile information this way.
This comes on top of changes announced a few weeks ago. For example, Facebook has said it will remove developers' access to people's data if the person has not used the app in three months.
ABC/AP
Topics: social-media, internet-culture, information-and-communication, united-states
First posted