Grindr Review: The family-friendly iPhone gay hook-up app
Grindr is an app for the iPhone that’s been out for a while now. Essentially it lets you find other people using the app based on proximity to you if they were on recently. Think of it like Manhunt with GPS on your phone. You can then send messages, pictures and your location to that person.
I think I’ve only actually met 1 person on there that I wasn’t already friends with, but the app does work relatively well and they have been doing a lot of work to improve the servers. The interface is pretty intuitive and you can always block an annoying guy.
The pic I was banned for
Although there is an 18+ warning when you download the app, it is a family friendly app. So if you’re a parent, feel safe letting your child download and use the app. I recently got banned from Grindr for the photo to the left. Now I don’t think the pic is that bad, and you’ve pretty much seen pics like this on magazine covers, but apparently because there is a tiny bit of cock and pubic hair… it’s considered an “obscene” photo.
Here’s a little email conversation I had with them while getting un-banned:
Me
I got banned and don’t understand why.
Grindr
Your profile was banned since it did not comply with our Terms of Service, which prohibits nudity or sexual/obscene photos and/or text. You cannot post photos of a penis on your public profile.
I removed the ban on your profile. Please ensure that in the future your profile contains only family friendly text and photos.
[Removed some marketing crap]
Me
Can you define what “nudity or sexual/obscene photos” are… because I’ve had my picture removed before for wearing a swimsuit that covers everything?
Also, isn’t it an 18+ app? Why do you have to limit the nudity?
Grindr
Thanks for your reply. I included in the previous email that your profile was banned due to a photo of a penis. If you have had photos removed while wearing a swimsuit, it could be anything from pubic hair showing or even your text. Although Grindr is an 18+ app, we want to keep the public profiles as clean as possible because not everyone wants to see nudity while searching for friends. Remember, you can send whatever pictures and text you like during private chat.
Now, beyond the ability to post R-rated pics on your main profile, there are definitely some improvements they could make. Right now you can only have 1 public photo, more would be nice. It would also be nice if it had push notification, and there was a way to stay logged in without having to run the app. It does drain your battery quickly because it uses GPS. It would be nice if you could search for sexual interests. And a web component so I don’t have to sit at my phone to use it would be even better.
Overall though, it is a pretty good app and I’d recommend at least trying it out. If you do work at a homophobic place, and you care, I wouldn’t log on while you’re at work. It can be nice at a bar, or even just wandering around town.
Related posts:
- iPhone App Review: Hanky Code
- Grindr is Anti-Cuddling
- Grindr Removed from the App Store (Updated)
- Twitter: Grindr has now been deleted from my phone. I suggest you do the same because they are anti-cuddling.
- Poll: How to hook-up or meet people best?
…use of their app by predators
you couldn’t have just been shirtless with some shorts on? Sorry but I’m on Grindr’s side. They’re just covering their own ass.
I don’t see anything wrong with your picture just your pubic hair but no penis and that would have been nice.
Love your GRINDER pic!!! Yummm…
Also, Loopt Mix has a search feature so that you can find M4M guys on there too.
I don’t see anything wrong with your pic. In fact you’re quite HAWT.
[...] There aren’t many iPhone apps out there for kinksters. Actually this is the first one targeted at us that I’ve ever heard of. There are a couple gay apps like Grindr. [...]
OK I’ve been using Grindr for some time now and I have been having crazy issues with their nude/racy photo policy.
I know that they do not allow underwear pics and whatnot but I seen way to many photos up here that were not deleted or banned. I tried putting up similar pics of me lying down in my blue underwear with my face on and they kept on deleting all my info and pics. I finally got banned for testing the nude shots (which I expected) but I am pissed as to how they watch only certain people and let a lot of the other guys post skanky pics!
I have been observing a few profiles just to keep track of how long they keep their photos up and right now one guy in particular had his full body (wearing only a black underwear and socks) without a face pic up for weeks now.
It’s ridiculous man. Being a natural show off…I too would wanna put some semi-skanky pic up. STOP DELETING MY PICS
If you do not approve of it…THEN BE CONSISTENT with the rest of the users!!!!
Interesting that they’re so strict about the pictures, with an app named “Grindr”, and considering what the app is used for, you’d think they’d be open to a bit of skin. I don’t understand that.
Grindr seriously has to stop deleting my pics. I toned down my pics a bit more and I only have a topless pic of me….TOPLESS that’s it. It seriously was cropped from my belly button up.
Looking around I can see so much body pics…guys with cropped out heads and wearing only underwear or see through mesh and some leather undies. WTF! How the fuck can you allow that shit and delete my pics.
I wanna know who’s deleting my pics..cuz that dumbass seriously aint doing his job right!
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any one know of apps/sites that have a similar funct? I have a pre & no grindr, yet..
I got banned for a topless photo cut off at the waist. These guys are fucked. It’s a gay pick-up site. It’s supposed to be sexy!
I have a Jailbroken 3Gs Iphone but I cant seem to be able to make Grindr work
I am on the Tmobile network, Pretty much all apps on my Iphone work the way they are supposed to Except for Grindr
anyone having the same probs?
Yeah…I don’t get it I was banned for shirtless with board shorts and no text. meanwhile I have 2 favs with underwear that has cock showing thru and never get deleted. WTF.
Very hot photo… am learning more about the use of GPS tech for meeting… email me
[...] would maybe understand this if I tried to post a profile on eHarmony or something, but a family friendly gay hook-up app? This is shocking to me. Maybe they’re just trying to start a war with me because the review [...]
Android has GPS based hook up apps without this kind of stupidity. (Encountr is the first one I’ve tried) This is yet another reason why iPhone’s days are numbered.
You don’t have to install apps through Google’s Market. You can get them from anywhere because it’s open source. A programmer could write a hardcore version where you could put up anything you can on any gay hookup website.
This app sucks!
They banned me once for posting a topless (belly button-up) pic! I mean it literally is cropped from my belly button to my face. Then they keep deleting my pic where am wearing a black (not even bulgy or see thru) underwear while wearing a full t shirt . They said it didnot comply with their policy.
But I have been browsing and seen some way more obsene pictures including a neck down shot of a guy with a starfish where his privates are.
Emailed them about it and they did not reply!
Just waitin for the next better app to come up cuz this one sucks….plus it crashes all the time and ur previous convo disappears!
1/10 is my rating for this piece of junky app
Guys, it’s all over. Apple shit-canned Grindr at midnight Pacific time today for violating its “decency” policy. It has been erased from their app store.
[...] would like to thank Kevin for making a comment on my Grindr Review post for notifying me of [...]
I don’t want to sound like an annoying booster for the Android based phones, but, this sort of thing can’t happen in an open market device.
Android users can use “Encountr” and not have censorship. And if the people running it, decided to, anyone else could write an app that is XXX rated if they wanted. It doesn’t have to go through Google, or a carrier and therefore, they don’t have to answer shareholders about adult content.
Apple is repeating it’s tried and true formula of coming up with great ideas and then stunting it with heavy handed restriction. (like only being able to use ATT without “breaking” your phone)
A sign that Apple is scared now is their frivolous lawsuit against HTC. Who make some of the Android based phones.
I run a porn company and we are thinking of hiring a programmer to write us some hardcore sex apps.
I have been banned and I was fully clothed in the pix. I emailed them 3 days ago to explain and still no reply ;(