Tinder rolls out ‘SELECT’ for $499 USD a month & game developer protests forces Unity to backtrack... this week in social change
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Welcome back to our weekly rundown of all things social change. We missed you.?
Our content in the final week of September has been a bit like the UK weather, unpredictable, varied, and invariably full of pollution. Let’s get into some stories before the two chosen highlights.?
Speaking of pollution, in a week where the G20 amassed in India, California has just passed a bill making it the first US state which will require large corporations to report their carbon emission outlays as of 2026.??
In the meantime, though, could preserving remote work options help society get a little closer to net zero??
Another solution, Jess believes, is to start pedestrianizing larger sections of major cities. Check out her opinion piece on the pros and cons of transforming London into a more ‘walkable city’.??
For a change of pace, maybe you’d like to read about how Ultra Beauty is training its makeup staff to help customers eradicate negative self-talk and gain confidence. Or, remember Elon Musk’s weird brain chip thing that went silent for a year? Flo has an update on where Neuralink is at today.?
If none of that piques your interest, there’s something for everyone on Thred.com.?
Hang about a little longer, though, because we’re about to get into the two feature stories of the week.?
If you’re giving up (or have already given up) on Tinder... firstly, fair enough... but secondly, get a load of this.?
Tinder is rolling out an exclusive and expensive new feature called ‘SELECT’.?
Operating as an invite-only subscription model, SELECT will allow users to be part of a VIP premium tier for the cool price of $499 USD a month.??
This grants customers exclusive features, such as the ability to message people they haven’t matched with, view the ‘most sought after’ profiles, and be boosted within the app’s algorithm.?
It says it is only inviting users who are within the top 1% of active profiles. Tinder also explains that applications will be open on a rolling basis.?
If you?are?selected, you’ll need to meet a ‘5-point’ list of requirements. This includes a verified photo, biography, five interests, at least four images, and details about the type of connection you’re seeking. A SELECT profile has to be in?top?shape, basically.?
Tinder’s parent company Match Group already mentioned the existence of a high-end membership tier in August, specifically developed to entice Gen Zers.?
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Apps already extensively commodify what should be a natural part of the human experience. Online dating platforms have carved an industry out of almost nothing, meaning they can gamify and push the limits of forging relationships as much as possible.?
Tinder SELECT feels so far removed from the original intention of an app – simply meeting people – that the point of it all gets lost.?
Get more on the story here.
Next up though, how’s about a slice of ‘bad assery’ from the gaming industry??
Game developers are refusing to be taken for a ride, and we’re here for it.?
Earlier this month, Unity Technologies – the company behind the cross-platform game engine Unity – blindsided hundreds of game developers with a slew of changes to its pricing model.?
Without prior warning or indication, it announced that it would be?charging developers per install of its ‘Unity Runtime Code’ which is used to run games across multiple platforms.?
Shortly after the initial bombshell, an?open letter?which quickly rose to 500 plus game developers demanded that Unity reverse course with its pricing model or face a significant ousting of ad revenue monetisation.
Further piling on the pressure, several developers who weren’t directly impacted threatened never to use Unity in the future to show solidarity, while other so-called partners weighed up?porting their existing projects?to competitor game engines such as Unreal.?
With its hand largely forced, Unity has now?reconsidered its position?and claimed that only companies planning to use its upcoming versions of Unity toolkits will have to deal with fees in 2024 and beyond. We won!?
For more details on the story and the specific developers involved, click here.
Don't forget to keep a tab open on?Thred.com?for more from our global Gen Z writing team every single day. If you want more updates and planet-positive ways to take action, sign up for our?email newsletter, and check out our youth empowerment opportunities through our?Change Maker Network?page.
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