Tapple Dating App Verifies Singles Through Government Data

Japanese dating app Tapple has launched a new verification feature that checks users’ marital status against official government records, aiming to address growing concerns over deceptive behavior on dating platforms. The move comes amid increasing pressure on Japan to tackle its demographic challenges by encouraging stable relationships and marriage.

The feature, introduced this week, allows users to voluntarily grant the app access to an online government portal to confirm their legal single status. Accounts found to be registered to individuals who are legally married will be suspended. The update is positioned as part of Tapple’s effort “to promote even safer and more secure dating and marriage hunting,” the company said in a statement.

The feature responds to widespread distrust among users. According to a recent survey conducted by Tapple, 69% of female users and 54% of male users reported concerns about others being dishonest about their relationship status. An overwhelming 97% of women and 83% of men said they wanted confirmation that a potential partner was truly unmarried.

Japan’s national statistics reflect the growing role of dating apps in relationships. A government survey from July 2024 found that one in four married individuals under 40 had met their spouse through an online platform. Japanese officials continue to push dating apps into the limelight to boost birth rates – Tokyo’s metropolitan government has even launched its own app, which mandates documentation to verify singleness and requires users to declare their intent to marry.