The gay dating app Sniffies has been relatively quiet since the App Store catastrophe (In case you missed it: The company launched an official iOS app that forced users into a censored "Vanilla Mode" to appease Apple's strict guidelines, only for the app to get pulled anyway — and there's still no word on whether it will return). But this month, the company is launching multiple new features designed to make connecting "faster and more intentional." Which is a super-smart move, IMO. Grindr is getting all kinds of heat right now for pushing paid features and gatekeeping basic functionality in the hopes that users will cough up some cash.
"Sniffies is built for immediacy," Eli Martin, Chief Marketing Officer at Sniffies, said in a press release. "We're not trying to keep people scrolling or upsell basic functionality. We're focused on helping people connect quickly and clearly. That means building tools that make connection easier without putting it behind a paywall."
Here's a quick breakdown of the new features:
You May Also Like
Hookup apps for everyone
AdultFriendFinder — readers’ pick for casual connections
Tinder — top pick for finding hookups
Hinge — popular choice for regular meetups
"Cruiser Cards" make it way easier to see who's available without having to hunt them down. Instead of dragging your finger across the map, the site pulls nearby active cruisers and highlights them in a scrollable carousel, sorted by the exact time they were last active. It basically turns the map into a live feed of guys who are ready to meet up right now.
Mashable Trend Report
Credit: Sniffies
Into Filter and Position Icons
If you're sick of clicking into a profile only to realize you're completely sexually incompatible, you'll love the new "Into Filter." It's a ridiculously easy way to distill the map down to guys who are looking for the exact same thing you are.
To make things even more obvious, the new "Position Icons" display a cruiser's preferences directly on their map avatar. You'll know right away whether they're a top (🍆), bottom (🍑), vers (↕️), or side (↔️). The emojis stack based on their profile (a vers top will show up as 🍆↕️, for example).
Credit: Sniffies
Share a Spot and Share a Group
Coordinating a meetup is easier now, too. With "Share a Spot," you can drop a temporary map pin right into the chat to suggest a neutral meeting place. The location automatically expires for both of you after 60 minutes, so you don't have to stress about oversharing your exact whereabouts.
Meanwhile, "Share a Group" lets you send live group event details (like the time, activity, and attendee list) directly into a chat.