Grindr, the world’s most famous dating app for gay and bi men, has reportedly disappeared from app stores in China.
According to AFP, it was removed from Apple’s app store in China on Thursday. It is also not on the Android store. Google’s Play Store is not available in the country.
Related: Grindr hook-up leads to shock pregnancy
The removal of the app comes as China cracks down on online activity. In recent months it has acted to remove access to pornography and instructed big tech to do more to create a “clean and healthy” cyberspace.
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Last summer, the country’s hugely popular WeChat social media platform removed many LGBTQ accounts, while in August authorities banned under-18s from playing online games for more than three hours a week.
Tech entrepreneur Joel Simkhai launched Grindr in 2009. In 2016, China-based gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech bought a 61.5% stake in the app for $93million. In 2017, it bought the remaining 38.5% for $152million.
However, the sale did not go down well with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which moved to block the deal. It had concerns around China potentially having access to the personal data of so many US citizens.
Related: Grindr sold for whopping $600 million
Beijing Kunlun Tech was told it had to sell Grindr back to US-based owners, which it did in 2020 for $600 million to a group of unnamed investors.
Although Grindr appears to have now been removed from China’s app stores, Blued, the country’s biggest dating app for gay men, is still available. Blued was set up in 2012 by Beijing-based gay entrepreneur and former policeman, Geng Le.
Apple, headed by gay CEO Tim Cook, did not respond to AFP about its story. Queerty has contacted both Apple and Grindr for comment.
UPDATE
Apple says the developer—not Apple—removed Grindr from the App Store in China.
Ronbo
So who still supports censorship?
I’m old and Joni Mitchel promotes roller-skating in her song – that’s dangerous, (life threatening) for the elderly and the young. We must censor such dangerous songs.
Yeah, that’s snowflake snark.
barryaksarben
and yet who is in an uproar over Minnie Mouse changing her clothes? A CARTOON!!! Who is upset over emojis? the right. Again , if you are going to come to THIS site dont thin we will automatically believe your nonsense as we are not the under-educated, prescription drug deplorables on the right. We are smarter than that and are laughing at your dumbass comment. support trans lives and let them compete in sports. that should blow your tiny little head
Mister P
I’m glad even you can see how ridiculous it is what you just said.
Fahd
But we’re supposed to watch two separate Olympic Games events from China as if there’s nothing wrong with the place?
So glad that (at least so far) I’m not a victim of the autocratic Chinese government in my access to the internet and other virtual communications.
Even though it may be bad for business, more needs to be said and reported about human rights abuses in China. Autocratic governments like that in China are a threat to us all.
scotty
well then. there must be no more may gay chinese men.
see how ridiculous that sounds?
that would be entirely sad and dismal were that to actually happen.
but that’s what they want their people to think.
sad.