Key Takeaways

Swiping over 50? One dating site just made connecting online with like-minded seniors a little safer. 

SeniorMatch recently became the first dating platform for people age 50 and older to introduce Selfie Liveness Verification. This technology prompts each user to take a live photo via the app’s camera, which helps ensure that users are connecting with real people, not catfish, bots, and/or scammers.  

The decision to add Selfie Liveness Verification to SeniorMatch is a direct response to the demographic’s own concerns: Eighty-seven percent of 967 SeniorMatch users age 50 or older said they are concerned about identity fraud and the prevalence of fake profiles. 

SeniorMatch encourages all users, regardless of age, to use Selfie Liveness Verification before interacting with other people online. This added layer of security makes 72% of survey respondents feel more comfortable about making online connections on SeniorMatch. 

Selfie Liveness Verification uses AI technology to compare the user’s live selfie with their profile pics. The AI analyses the photos for inconsistencies and determines whether the person in the live selfie matches the person depicted in the profile pics. This ensures authenticity — a hot commodity in the world of online dating. 

“For our community members over 50, authenticity and trust are essential for forming meaningful connections and fulfilling relationships,” Dani Johnson, a spokesperson for SeniorMatch, said in a press release about the new feature. 

It shouldn’t take long for a “verified” badge to appear in the user’s profile. The badge is a reassuring sign to other people seeking authentic connections. It not only suggests that the user is a real person, but that they are committed to proving their authenticity and forging real bonds. 

SeniorMatch also assures users that Selfie Liveness Verification keeps private pics private. “All selfies are securely processed with end-to-end encryption to protect user privacy,” according to a SeniorMatch press release. “Regardless of whether the verification is successful, the user’s biometric data will be immediately deleted after processing.”

Johnson encouraged users to participate in Selfie Liveness Verification before they chat with anyone, or even send likes, on the dating platform. “This helps foster mutual trust, increases the likelihood of successful matches, and improves message response rates,” she explained. 

And trust is something that every online dater is wary of giving to the wrong person, especially as romance scammers continue to prowl for new targets on dating sites. 

Senior Daters Are Particularly Vulnerable to Romance Scams 

Anyone can fall victim to fake profiles or romance scams, but seniors are particularly vulnerable. As the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pointed out, scammers often pretend to be considerably younger than their targets, and they use fake/AI-generated photos to convince their target of their identity. 

Scammers target people who are isolated, lonely, and non-tech savvy, three characteristics that often describe our elders.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported losses of up to $1.14 billion in 2023, making romance scams one of the most financially devastating forms of fraud. With this in mind, some dating apps educate users on the dangers of romance scams, and implement features like Selfie Liveness Verification as added security. 

SeniorMatch’s use of Selfie Liveness Verification “sets a new senior dating industry standard,” according to the press release. It’s a security standard that raises the bar for the rest of the online senior dating industry, too.