This is going to be a bit of a rant. Using Tinder (or Bumble) just to farm Instagram followers has gone from annoying trend to everyday nuisance. It wastes people’s time, clutters the dating pool, and—by 2025—actually breaks the apps’ rules.
TL;DR
- If you genuinely want to share more about yourself, use in-app features (bio, Interests, Lifestyle, Spotify) after you match—don’t plaster handles in your bio.
- Tinder now bans social handles in profiles and removed Instagram linking entirely (rolled out in late 2024, finalized by January 2025).
- Tinder’s guidelines forbid promoting social handles to gain followers; Bumble says using the app to gain followers can get you blocked.
- Most “DM me on Insta” bios are low-effort follower fishing; report them and move on.
People Using Tinder For Instagram Followers Are The Worst
This is a trend that has been growing for the last couple of years and seems to be getting worse and worse. Unfortunately, we live in an extremely vain society, where gaining followers is more important than meeting new people or making real connections. And that is exactly why many people have realized they can use Tinder, Bumble, or any other dating app to grow their Instagram following. When you think about it, it’s extremely pathetic. The fact that people go to such lengths to get a few extra followers really shouldn’t surprise me, but it still does.
If you’ve used Tinder for more than a day, you’ve probably seen it. On Bumble and other dating apps, it happens, but less often. You’ve likely come across bios like:
“I’m never on here, you’ll have better luck reaching me on Insta @desperate_99”
or
“I’m deleting this soon, add me on Insta @iampathetic.”
If you’re someone who does this, go have a good, long look in the mirror—and then please delete your Instagram handle from your bio. You shouldn’t have that handle in there anyway. Tinder now forbids social handles on profiles, and Instagram linking inside Tinder was completely removed in 2024.
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Why People Using Tinder For Instagram Followers Are The Worst
It’s incredibly selfish. That really sums it up. What these people are doing is ruining things for everyone else. Sure, one person using Tinder just to leave their Instagram might not be a big deal, but when thousands do it, it clutters the dating pool with imposters. People already struggle to find genuine matches, and this just makes things worse. The more follower-hunters there are, the less Tinder is used for real dating.
Thankfully, by 2025, both Tinder and Bumble have made this behavior reportable. Tinder’s Community Guidelines clearly say: don’t advertise, promote, or share your social handles to gain followers. Bumble adds that using the app to gain followers or listing only social handles in your bio can get you blocked. Follower-fishing isn’t just annoying anymore—it’s against the rules.
Why Tinder Finally Took Action
Tinder has always worked to fight bots and fake profiles because they directly hurt user experience. In the past, fake profiles scammed people out of money, while Instagram hunters only wanted followers. But the end result was similar—users got disappointed and stopped using the app. For years, Tinder hesitated because of its old Instagram partnership from 2015. That’s no longer an excuse.
By late 2024, Tinder completely removed the Instagram linking feature, banned social handles from profiles, and updated its community guidelines. The goal is to keep the app focused on real dating, not social media promotion.
What Tinder Should Do About It
Tinder should continue banning people who misuse the app. At the very least, give warnings to repeat offenders. If someone uses Tinder for a purpose other than dating, they should be removed. This could be done easily with filters detecting social handles or mentions of Instagram.
If you genuinely want to share more of yourself, there are in-app options now—bio sections, Interests, Lifestyle, and Spotify connections. You can always exchange social handles privately with someone you’ve matched with and actually like. Linking Instagram publicly isn’t an option anymore, and that’s a good thing.
What You Should Do About People Using Tinder For Instagram Followers
This part is simple: report them. Most of these profiles exist only to farm followers, not to meet anyone. If everyone makes a habit of reporting these accounts, the apps will continue cracking down on them. On Tinder, tap the report button, select “Promotion/solicitation” or “Spam,” and move on. Bumble users can do the same, as using the app to gain followers is now listed as a blockable offense. Reporting helps clean up the dating pool for everyone.
FAQ
Is it still allowed to put my Instagram handle in my Tinder bio?
No. Tinder’s guidelines now ban public social handles, and the app will remove them automatically. Attempting to bypass this can lead to warnings or removal.
Can I still link Instagram to my Tinder profile?
No. Instagram linking was removed in late 2024, and all related data was wiped by early 2025. Use Tinder’s built-in features to share more about yourself.
Does Bumble allow promoting my social accounts in my profile?
No. Bumble specifically says using the app to gain followers or listing only social handles in your bio can get you blocked.
What’s the right way to share socials if I prefer chatting off-app?
Match first, have a short conversation, and then share details privately if you both want to. Keep it off your public profile.
What should I choose when reporting follower-fishing profiles?
Select the closest option such as “Promotion/solicitation,” “Spam,” or “Off-platform contact.” Reports are confidential and help improve the app experience.
