Coffee Meets Bagel’s Selfie Verification Sees Matching Success

Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) has introduced Selfie Verification, a feature designed to reduce fake and misleading profiles on the platform. The tool requires users to submit a short video selfie, which AI then compares against all photos on their profile to ensure consistency and authenticity.

The feature, which began rolling out in April 2026, has seen strong adoption. More than 70% of active users completed verification within the first month. CMB reports that verified profiles are leading to higher connection rates, particularly in the exchange of phone numbers – an indicator that conversations are progressing beyond the app more quickly.

While many dating platform users are understandably careful with giving away too much personal information, this higher rate of matching success is also a good sign. Even if some users are going to be unwilling to verify themselves unless they have to, an increase in successful matches could mean that more real users are interacting with one another, and that fake or bot-run accounts are falling by the wayside.

Rachel Tee, Head of Trust & Safety at Coffee Meets Bagel, said the feature addresses a core source of user fatigue. Many daters question whether profile photos accurately represent the person, contributing to hesitation and distrust during early interactions. The verification process aims to reduce that uncertainty without adding significant friction.

The system uses a third-party provider (Persona) for secure processing. It focuses on facial matching across the entire profile rather than just the primary photo. Accounts are typically reviewed within 24 hours. CMB has used similar verification technology in other markets, including government ID checks in Singapore, where it significantly reduced scam-related complaints.