With the burgeoning popularity of location-based social networks, it was only a matter of time until a gay dating site emerged. Sure as shooting, Techcrunch reports that Grindr, a location-based gay dating application, is available for the iPhone. Geared toward gay and bisexual men, Grindr is one application in which privacy definitely matters.
While homosexuality is definitely more acceptable now than it ever has been in history, there is still the opposing fringe of anti-gay individuals who could and in some cases, definitely would, use Grindr as a hate tool. For that reason, a users location is automatically is automatically obscured. Rather than being pinpointed on a map, users are shown as being a certain distance away from another user.
Basically when a user opens Grindr, nearby users will appear in a photo grid. See a photo you like and you can click through to the profile from where a real-time chat feature is accessible. Only then, it the two users mutually agree will an exact location be shared. Nokia
While I’ve often thought that established web-based social networks like Facebook would eventually dominate the location-based mobile social networking space, Grindr says it’ll one up established gay social networks avoiding adult and/or explicit content. Given Apple’s strict application standards, Grindr says many of the established players won’t be able to gain access to the App Store. Grinder Nokia.
Heterosexual folks interested in location-based dating can check out Are You Interested or Match.com, both of which just launched for the iPhone.
