Navigating the murky waters of online dating can be tricky. You want to avoid matching with a familiar face—an ex, relative, or coworker—while ensuring you don’t miss a potential perfect pairing. Enter Tinder’s latest feature, which allows users to block personal contacts in the app, so you don’t need to worry about accidentally swiping right on your single-but-ready-to-mingle plumber.
A recent survey by the online platform found that more than 40% of respondents have stumbled into an old flame on a digital dating app, while another 24% saw a relative or office mate. An unlucky 10% even encounter a professor’s profile.
Unsurprisingly, most participants said they prefer to avoid such awkward meetings. With that in mind, Tinder introduced Block Contacts—the option to choose which saved numbers (and the attached faces) you’d rather not see (or be seen by) in the app. Whether those folks are already on Tinder, or join later using the same phone number, they won’t appear as a potential match.
“We may not be able to save you from awkward run-ins at the coffee shop, but we are giving you more control over your experience on Tinder,” Bernadette Morgan, group product manager for trust and safety, said in a statement. “We’re rolling out Block Contacts as an additional resource empowering members with peace of mind by helping create a worry-free space for them to spark new connections.”
Initially tested in India, Korea, and Japan, the function is now available worldwide. And just in time for “Uncuffing Season”—the annual springtime rush of previously hibernating couples to split up and go their separate ways ahead of the sunny months.
To start prepping for the summer of love, simply navigate to your Tinder profile settings, then select those contacts you want to steer clear of. Early adopters of the Block Contacts feature added about a dozen people to their list.
