It is not that long since online dating was considered taboo, something that people rarely talked about. But in the last decade it has changed hugely. 

Now the global dating scene is clearly flourishing. Over 380 million people worldwide are estimated to use dating platforms, and it is an industry with an annualised revenue in excess of $10 billion.

There are however signs that the pace of growth has been accompanied by new risks too. 

For example, dating platforms face unique moderation challenges. Nearly half of all dating app users report encountering scammers, and romance scams alone accounted for over a $1 billion in losses in 2023.

Harassment remains widespread, with almost 48% of users experiencing unwanted messages or abuse. Meanwhile, the rise of generative AI is meaning that the scale and sophistication of fake profiles and fraudulent content is growing at a scale that is making it hard to manage for many platforms. 

What we are seeing is that regulators are also stepping up scrutiny. Platforms are now expected to comply with stricter rules such as the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act. This makes proactive moderation essential not just for user safety, but also for compliance and brand reputation.

The good news? AI-powered moderation has evolved significantly, enabling dating apps to tackle these issues effectively, efficiently, and at scale.

Checkstep CEO, Guillaume Bouchard, was recently invited to share his insights on how dating platforms should use AI moderation strategies for Global Dating Insights. Here is a highlight of some of his recommendations:

How to Implement AI Moderation For Dating Sites

Tailoring AI to Different Types of Content

Effective content moderation requires addressing multiple types of user-generated content, including text, images, videos, and audio. AI can be also tailored to each content type, such as using fuzzy matching and semantic analysis for text to detect harmful intent like harassment or scams which remain common in online dating.

For images, AI can implement techniques like image hashing to detect repeated uploads of flagged content. It can also scan video content frame by frame to detect violations. Audio moderation tools can identify inappropriate language or hate speech, focusing on high-risk content in order to protect dating platform integrity.

AI can also incorporate contextual analysis and risk scoring. This helps platforms identify high-risk users early and adapt to emerging threats such as romance scams. Tiered detection models, combining cost-efficient scanning with advanced decision-making tools, can help prioritize high-risk cases which pose a threat to dating users.

Building a Smarter Workforce with AI Support

AI-powered tools also help build a smarter workforce for moderators. Centralised dashboards can streamline information and help moderators make faster, more informed decisions, building dating customer retention through safety.

AI-enhanced explainability features allow for faster policy breach categorization and decision-making. While tools such as image blurring and audio muting protect moderators from harmful content during reviews. Automation can significantly reduce review times, enabling platforms to manage content more efficiently.

Ensuring Compliance with Evolving Regulations

Lastly, AI can play a crucial role in ensuring platforms remain compliant with evolving regulations. Automated appeal and audit processes can track AI decisions, ensuring that platforms comply with laws such as the Online Safety Act and Digital Services Act which are critical for any dating platform.

Transparency reporting tools can demonstrate adherence to regulations, while policy management systems allow platforms to quickly update policies in response to new threats, ensuring real-time compliance.

Scaling with AI-Driven Moderation

Incorporating AI-driven moderation solutions provides dating platforms with scalable, cost-efficient methods to tackle the unique challenges of moderating user-generated content. By combining automation, advanced detection models, and smarter workforce tools, dating platforms can protect users from harm while scaling operations effectively. This approach ensures that platforms can offer safer, more trustworthy environments for online dating.

To explore these strategies in more depth, and to discover practical tips you can apply immediately – download our free Trust & Safety Cheat Sheet for Dating Apps. Learn how to build user trust, protect your community, and ensure sustainable growth in today’s fast-paced online dating landscape.

You can download the Trust & Safety Cheat Sheet here.

Checkstep is the AI-powered content moderation platform trusted by leading companies to ensure compliance, safety, and trust online. Checkstep specialises in managing user-generated content and is fully compliant with the European Union’s Digital Services Act. It empowers dating platforms such as 123MultiMedia’s Tchatche and Chivy, along with prominent brands including TrustPilot, WeTransfer, and Money Saving Expert, to build safer, more reliable digital communities.