2026 Winter Olympics: Grindr beefs up safety features

The 2026 Winter Olympics begin this week, and for athletes trying to get theirs Passionate rivalry Right now, gay dating app Grindr is beefing up its security features.

Grindr will be available during the Olympics, the app told Mashable, with additional safeguards in place. For example, the Explorer and Roam location-based features will be disabled in the Olympic Villages to prevent people outside the venues from knowing who is on the app. Remote visibility will also be disabled by default and users will have the option to use an approximate distance. Private videos will also be disabled in official Olympic Games venues.

During the Olympics in recent years, dating app users have changed locations in hopes of meeting athletes. These measures are therefore logical.

In addition to these location features, Grindr will also have unlimited disappearing messages and the ability to unsend messages, accessible to all users. Screenshots will be disabled for profile pictures and photos shared in chat, which is a standard feature.

Regular in-app safety reminders will also appear on Grindr, with links to support and resources. Only public service announcements will also be shown – no third party advertising.

“The Olympics bring increased visibility, which can create real safety risks for LGBTQ+ athletes, especially those who are not out or come from countries where being LGBTQ+ is dangerous or illegal,” Grindr Chief Product Officer AJ Balance said in a press release. Grindr is restricted in several countries due to local laws.

“These temporary changes aim to reduce this risk and give users greater control over their privacy while keeping the app available.”

Grindr also implemented these security measures during the 2024 Paris and 2022 Beijing Olympics.