Grindr Banning Accounts?

[JTtorretto]

In smaller markets RM is not valid marketing so I’ve utilized Grindr or Scruff (especially since the death of CL). However soliciting to an easily offended person can get u reported/flagged/banned on these apps; especially Grindr. Thus, I avoid that by exchanging phone numbers and taking the conversation off the app to avoid getting my account deleted.

 

The monitoring on Grindr is extremely inconsistent tho. Recently, I’ve seen guys blatantly advertising in their headline “4Hire??” . I’ve noticed enforcement can also vary by the region your in.

[+ ArVaGuy]

Aren't they now owned by a Chinese organization?

 

Yes, Grinder is owned by a Chinese company. The US government is forcing the company to divest Grinder due to security concerns. The federal government alleges Identity theft, blackmail, and spying on behalf of the Chinese government.

[JayCeeKy]

Thus, I avoid that by exchanging phone numbers and taking the conversation off the app to avoid getting my account deleted.

Yes, I've learned my lesson after two bannings - take the conversation to another forum. In my case, I give the phone number of my Burner app, which allows me anonymity and the ability to change the phone number once a month, if need be.

[hypothetically]

So last night in the midst of heading to a nsa play romp from the app, my Grindr account was banned.

 

Frustrating because I’ve “curated” a list of favourites, saved convos etc since I first got the app 6-7 years ago. I was never the victim of “lost all chats” etc.

 

Anyone had this issue and the ban was removed? I made another account so that the meetup I was heading to was still on...that account got banned also like an hour later.

 

Per the ToS, don’t discuss “transactions” and your account won’t be deleted. Simple. You likely propositioned someone and they reported you. Account gone. There is no way to retrieve your account, you must make a new one.

[DMICS]

Per the ToS, don’t discuss “transactions” and your account won’t be deleted. Simple. You likely propositioned someone and they reported you. Account gone. There is no way to retrieve your account, you must make a new one.

 

Where in my original post does it mention I discussed transactions?

[MikeBiDude]

I give the phone number of my Burner app

Love my burner app! And yeah move those Grindr, Tinder, seeking.com, and other similar finds to text when things get busy...avoid violating various TOS.

[+ LIguy]

Can I ask which burner apps that you use?

[JayCeeKy]

Can I ask which burner apps that you use?

https://www.burnerapp.com/

[+ LIguy]

Thanks!

[+ Tarte Gogo]

This is strange that many of you guys got banned. I am quite explicit in my convos and never got an issue.

My profile has ? ? in it. It is pretty obvious what I am on Grindr for.

 

I think you guys must have been reported.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

I don't know why people are being banned, but to do so without an explanation or a refund seems pretty off-base. I would hope that kicking someone off without an explanation or refund would be illegal, regardless, or what someone would want to put in "TOS." These TOS are not the result of contract negotiations, so are, of course, quite one-sided. The law really should limit what can be placed in TOS. Should it be legal to bury somewhere in the TOS language such as "If I use the word 'the', I agree to pay $100,000"?

There are some consumer organisations that review the TOS of the major software providers. If a stupid thing was inserted, like your example above, these organisations would tell the media, which would really enjoy the story and put it on the front page right away.

See https://tosdr.org/ for one example of such an organisation.

Unfortunately, they are not resourced sufficiently to have read everything. Grindr and tinder TOS don’t have a rating for example.

[KeepItReal]

Total BS. Apple doesn't care so long as the surface appearance of an app is acceptable. This is probably a result of three different issues:

 

First, tech companies being lazy and greedy at the same time over the last couple decades. They failed to self-police criminal content so now we have a legislative overreaction that is causing a chilling effect across the market.

 

https://www.wired.com/story/how-a-controversial-new-sex-trafficking-law-will-change-the-web/

 

 

Second, the ongoing lawsuit against grindr is forcing it to change in some ways because it has done a shit job of dealing with fake profiles especially used in harassing ways.

 

https://theoutline.com/post/6968/grindr-lawsuit-matthew-herrick

 

Third, maybe its Chinese owner had an influence, but it's doubtful. More likely, since he's forced to sell grindr by June 2020, he's trying to clean up the property, especially concerning the lawsuit above, to make it a more attractive acquisition. He doesn't want to lose too much on the deal.

 

https://www.engadget.com/2019/05/14/grindr-sale-june-2020/

From my read of things, the CEO of Scruff disagrees with your assessment. He made it clear that their enforcement is due to app store policies. Here is an extract - I also included the link below.

 

Today most software is distributed via app stores, and consequently app content policies are a direct extension of app store content policies. Simply put, all gay and queer apps must enforce app store content policies or risk being removed from the app stores altogether, and this happened to SCRUFF earlier this year. Had this removal been permanent, it would have been devastating to our company and our community.

 

Moving forward, to comply with app store guidelines, the primary profile photo may not show jockstraps, underwear, or bikini-style swimwear. We have also clarified our policy by removing references to hugging and kissing - it is specifically sexually suggestive embraces that may not align with app store guidelines.

 

https://support.scruff.com/hc/en-us/articles/360016248393-Clarifying-SCRUFF-s-New-Profile-Photo-Policy

[LivingnLA]

From my read of things, the CEO of Scruff disagrees with your assessment. He made it clear that their enforcement is due to app store policies. Here is an extract - I also included the link below.

 

Today most software is distributed via app stores, and consequently app content policies are a direct extension of app store content policies. Simply put, all gay and queer apps must enforce app store content policies or risk being removed from the app stores altogether, and this happened to SCRUFF earlier this year. Had this removal been permanent, it would have been devastating to our company and our community.

 

Moving forward, to comply with app store guidelines, the primary profile photo may not show jockstraps, underwear, or bikini-style swimwear. We have also clarified our policy by removing references to hugging and kissing - it is specifically sexually suggestive embraces that may not align with app store guidelines.

 

https://support.scruff.com/hc/en-us/articles/360016248393-Clarifying-SCRUFF-s-New-Profile-Photo-Policy

 

Thanks for the link and reply. I agree 100% because that's what I was saying. Apple doesn't care about gay content. Their concern is about sexually explicit or suggestive content. That's what Scruff's CEO is saying so I don't believe we'd disagree at all. Further, there are other factors that grindr faces that scruff does not. Specifically, grindr has done a shit job in proactively addressing several issues, including harassment, which scruff has been very proactive on. The lawsuit I mention in my second point above is an example of that issue.

[marylander1940]

All I’ve been seeing on Grindr is scams of multiple “daddies” messaging me asking if I want a sugar daddy and that he has 300 a week for me for pictures until we meet or 3k allowance a month and their location are a million miles away sigh or their location on the app says their in my area but they say their overseas currently and want my bank info sigh. Why is it so hard to find a real daddy who’s gonna spoil me and I’ll give him as much unlimited time as he wants in return

 

I’m sure there’s someone searching for you out there!

[JayCeeKy]

I think you guys must have been reported.

I was banned 2x but I don't think I was reported - at least not by someone that I contacted since I NEVER initiated any discussion of a transaction - I always started by complimenting that person on their pic, and let THEM take the initiative. I'm pretty sure that I was banned for using the word "gen" and "giving person" in either my Profile or my screen name. I went unnoticed for about three months and then one day BAM! banned. After that first banning, I think they monitored my convos which got me banned again for discussing a transaction with another local user who was about ready to give me his home address when BAM! banned again. So, my theory is that they do some monitoring but it is very cursory and random.... and yes, some people do get away with “4Hire??” -- but not forever.

 

I have been on my good behavior for the last month (e.g. avoiding the "gen" word and asking interested parties to save any convos for text messages to my Burner phone); as I noted previously, all the benefits of a paid subscription have been restored to my account, even though I did not ask Grindr for them. I think they want your business ($67 for a year is a pretty hefty fee, IMHO), but they also want to avoid any entanglement with the law.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

I think they monitored my convos which got me banned again

 

Hmm, if that is true then Grindr are lying to their customers, in the text on their app:

 

 

Let’s sue them and ask for compensation!

[hypothetically]

I was banned 2x but I don't think I was reported - at least not by someone that I contacted since I NEVER initiated any discussion of a transaction - I always started by complimenting that person on their pic, and let THEM take the initiative. I'm pretty sure that I was banned for using the word "gen" and "giving person" in either my Profile or my screen name. I went unnoticed for about three months and then one day BAM! banned. After that first banning, I think they monitored my convos which got me banned again for discussing a transaction with another local user who was about ready to give me his home address when BAM! banned again. So, my theory is that they do some monitoring but it is very cursory and random.... and yes, some people do get away with “4Hire??” -- but not forever.

 

I have been on my good behavior for the last month (e.g. avoiding the "gen" word and asking interested parties to save any convos for text messages to my Burner phone); as I noted previously, all the benefits of a paid subscription have been restored to my account, even though I did not ask Grindr for them. I think they want your business ($67 for a year is a pretty hefty fee, IMHO), but they also want to avoid any entanglement with the law.

 

My theory is that they have some kind of software that keyword pulls and flags a conversation. (Gen, $$, how much, escort, hire, per hour, etc) because it is the only time my account or the account of someone who has contacted me has been terminated. From what I gather, Grindr doesn’t go randomly deleting accounts (and certainly not for explicit conversation). But there have been times I have been propositioned from real people and once I used any kind of what I think to be a “transaction keyword,” account gone. I have done business on apps and always moved it off the app immediately with a burner number.

 

...I do, however, find it interesting that text suggesting blatant and explicit drug use is allowed on these apps. But shame on the sex workers.

[+ LIguy]

there is a constant stream of adbots on Grindr trying to lure you to pay websites which I am convinced are owned by Grindr.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

there is a constant stream of adbots on Grindr trying to lure you to pay websites which I am convinced are owned by Grindr.

 

I mean, that's just smart business. I wouldn't blame them if that were the case.