As culture secretary, Matt Hancock developed a taste for technology, even launching his own eponymous social network in February 2018. But now as health secretary it appears his appetite for big data has grown ever greater. Not content with launching the NHS Covid app as part of a £22 billion test and trace scheme, his latest wheeze is to partner up with the UK’s most popular dating devices including Tinder, Bumble and Hinge to boost vaccine uptake.
A gushing departmental press release proudly details how, from Monday, these apps will provide ‘bonuses, stickers and profile badges’ for vaccinated users. The new feature will allow users to ‘show their support for the vaccine’ on their dating profiles, give ‘in-app bonuses to those who say they are vaccinated’ and bombard users with adverts and banners for the ‘every vaccination gives us hope’ campaign. Sexy or what?
Examples include Tinder launching a ‘vaccine centre’ to offer a ‘suite of resources to educate and connect members’ with their nearest vaccination site.
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