Online dating in Australia has become common, but the number of harmful incidents linked to it is high. In response, a voluntary code of conduct was introduced to reduce these incidents. It came into effect on April 1, 2025.
Research from the Australian Institute of Criminology showed that nearly 75 percent of dating app users reported sexual violence through these platforms. One in three people has experienced in-person abuse. This includes assault, coercion, and stalking. The same data found that gay, bisexual, and transgender users were at higher risk than heterosexual users.
Tools to Identify Harmful Behavior
The code asks dating platforms to detect abusive conduct using new tools. They are now required to use artificial intelligence to identify harmful messages. If a user sends abusive language or something threatening, the system can detect it and issue a warning.
These warnings appear in real time before messages are sent. This aims to stop harassment before it reaches the other person.
Platforms must also allow users to report abuse easily. The reporting functions need to be clear, easy to find, and responsive. People who use dating apps should not struggle to report serious behavior.
If someone is banned from one platform for abuse, they will also be blocked from others owned by the same company.
Choosing Different Paths: Relationship Styles in the App Era
Many dating platforms now support a wide range of relationship goals. Some people seek long-term romance or marriage. Others focus on companionship, mentorship, or something less defined. Apps like Bumble, Hinge, Secret Benefits app, and Tinder each attract different users based on the kind of connection they want.
This openness means people have more ways to choose how they relate to others. The new voluntary code applies to all types of these platforms. So it covers both users looking for deep commitments and those who prefer something more casual or less traditional.
Shared Effort: Platforms and Government
Major companies such as Match Group, Bumble, and Grindr have agreed to follow this code. Combined, they control about three-quarters of the dating app industry in Australia.
The government made it clear that participation is voluntary, but that could change. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has warned that if these efforts do not improve safety, the government will create legal rules to enforce them.
If a company breaks the code, it may be given a warning. They might also be forced to make a plan to fix the problem. If they still fail, they can be removed from the code and lose formal recognition of compliance.
Every platform that signed the code must submit regular progress reports. These reports will include the number of users banned, types of banned content, and how complaints are handled. The eSafety Commissioner will review these updates.
Better Features to Improve Confidence
Some platforms have already taken independent steps. Match Group has started using photo and identification checks to stop people from pretending to be someone else. This verification makes it harder for abusers or scammers to reach users.
AI tools are also used to advise people to rethink sending certain types of messages. This helps to stop offensive messages from being sent in the first place.
Bumble and Grindr have issued public statements showing their involvement in writing the code. Bumble focused on the high risk faced by women, gay and transgender users, and First Nations people. Grindr shared that creating safer dating platforms is one of its top goals.
Legal Options and Future Checks
Platforms are expected to evaluate users who may pose a threat and work with law enforcement when needed. The code promotes cooperation between app operators and police when there is a safety threat.
There have also been talks about protecting users under 18. Some public discussions have pushed for age screening technology, but the government has focused more on app features that can lead to unhealthy habits, such as endless scrolling and delayed decision-making.
Final Word: Practical Outcomes, Not Promises
The aim of the code is to reduce harm. To check if that is happening, the first evaluation will be held in July. The government and eSafety Commissioner will decide how well the new rules are working.
What comes next will depend on what those reviews show. For now, the combination of user reports, warnings, and safety tools is designed to make using dating apps safer for all adult users.
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