Users Can Change the Grindr Icon in Middle East, North Africa

Grindr is set to implement an option that allows users to change the Grindr icon. It will be applied in those countries which discriminate against homosexuals.

In countries like Egypt, Lebanon and Iran, homosexual users may be at risk from having an app like Grindr on their phones.

In Egypt, for example, up to 70 men have been arrested in the last two months for ‘abnormal’ sexual relations.

Many have been targeted via online dating applications, with police using the features of the apps to track down and identify gay men.

To combat this threat to the LGBT community, the platform will both allow users to change the Grindr icon, and allow them to set a password lock on the app.

A spokesperson has detailed the move in a statement: “The icon and passcode options will be available to users later this year in select regions including the Middle East, Gulf Region, and North Africa.

“We are committed to protecting our users around the world and will continue to roll out safety features to locations that are in need.”

Allowing users to change the Grindr icon comes shortly after the app made alterations to be more inclusive of the transgender community.

A range of new options were recently added to the application for users who wanted to express their gender and sexuality in more detail.