Met someone you have been matched online for long and got totally disappointed on how they turned out to be in real life? Well, you are not alone. Hundreds of scam profiles get created across dating and match-making apps and in the age of social media filters, it’s an easy trick to layer one’s photos with filters and heavy edits.
With the pandemic and the lockdown facilitated to curb the COVID-19 cases, we saw a spike in new profiles created on Betterhalf.ai. Clearly, people are in the never-ending quest to find a romantic partner for a lifetime but how can you believe that what’s on the profile picture is really them?
To combat this catfishing on match-making apps, Betterhalf.ai has come up with a new safety feature called selfie verification. By taking a real-time selfie, the artificial intelligence technology of Betterhalf will compare the profile photos on the users’ profile to make sure they are genuine and not fake.
Aimed at providing women on Betterhalf.ai with an extra safety shield, the new feature focuses on getting a higher probability of viewing genuine potential matches. Once the user has completed the onboarding verification, this feature is an additional step to create an all-rounded safe profile.
So how do you actually get your profile verified?
Make sure your Betterhalf.ai app is updated to the latest version on the App store/Play Store
Open the Betterhalf.ai app, make sure you are registered on the app and go to your profile page
You can do it right then by clicking on “Safety Centre” or the ‘greyed out verified badge’
Take a real-time selfie and submit it for verification
If your selfie matches with the photos uploaded, boom! Your profile is verified
Once verified, you will get a prominent blue tick mark beside your profile name.
There are chances that your selfie might not get verified in the real time depending upon the authenticity of the selfie and profile pictures. In this case, your verification will be submitted for review. You will have to wait for 24 hours for the team to verify your picture. That definitely does not stop you from using the app.
In case your verification is rejected, we recommend you to use better lighting and take a selfie again and submit it for verification.
To keep the community safe and secured, it is recommended to verify your profile before sending a connection request or before starting a conversation to or before starting a conversation to increase your visibility by 44% and your to make a meaningful connection by 73%.
“Our community trusts us to introduce them to new people, and we’re dedicated to building innovative safety features, powered by best-in-class technology,” say Shankar Krishnamurthy and Bhaumik Shah, Product Managers at Betterhalf.ai.
It is only natural that the facial appearance undergoes changes over time. For example, there could be beard growth, tanning of the complexion, hair growth, weight gain and many more. In such instances, our AI technology covers up these minor differences by choosing to go with features recognition. So unless you undergo a lip surgery for a pout or rhinoplasty (the surgery to change the nose shape), you are sorted.
Moreover, if you are selfie-verified, and then change your profile photos subsequently, your profile will remain verified if the newly updated profile photos match your selfie. If the photos uploaded do not match the selfie, you will be notified that your profile is no longer verified. You will have to again verify your profile by visiting the safety centre.
Tips for online safety from our product team
- Safeguard your information
Never share personal information such as your home or work address, or details about your daily routine (e.g, that you go to a certain gym every Monday) with people you don’t know.
- Continue conversations only the app
Keep conversations on the BetterHalf app while you’re getting to know someone. Users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email, or phone right away.
- Never share financial information
Never send money, especially over bank transfer, even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Transferring money is like sending cash — it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace where the money went. Never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts. If a user asks you for money, report it to us immediately.
- Take your time in meeting a person
Don’t be in a rush to meet the person you are chatting with. Get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat off BetterHalf app. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to screen for any red flags. A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool.
- Always meet in a public place
For the first few times, meet in populated, public places. If the person compels or pressurises you to go to a private location, end the date.
- If you feel uncomfortable, leave
It’s okay to end the date early if you’re feeling uncomfortable. In fact, it’s encouraged to end the interaction early. And if your instincts are telling you something is off or you feel unsafe, ask people around you for help.
