Last year in October I was arrested on the charge of 3 counts for Sexual assault on a child. However, like many things, there is more to this story. For years I've been using the social media app/dating app "Tinder". On Tinder, the minimum age requirement is 18, and all that is required to register is a phone number or facebook account, at the time at least. Meaning anyone can sign up in a matter of moments with even the smallest amount of technological knowledge. I met a girl, listed as 18, and we began talking, later exchanging more personal messaging services, and decided to meet in person. Physical interaction was had, and afterwards she claimed she was 16, which in the state of Colorado is old enough to consent to sex with someone within a certain age limit under the "Romeo and Juliet" law. After this, we met 2 more times, but on the 3rd time, her parental guardians became aware of our encounters. I lost touch with her, under the guise she was punished and her phone was taken away for sneaking out with a boy, something not unheard of. Weeks later, two police officers arrived at my door, with an arrest warrant for sexual assault on a child. At the time, to my knowledge, this was a big misunderstanding and her parents were upset at me, wanting some kind of repercussions, regardless of legality. I was taken to the police station, processed, and then went before a judge. Before going in front of a judge, I informed the public defender she was 16, and everything was completely legal. As we entered the courtroom, the public defender presented this, only to be told by the prosecutor that the girl was 12 years of age. I will skip the pain and shame I felt, as this letter is to convey facts, emotional distress is something that I cannot express in words, at least over a letter. However, there a few factors to take into account. Firstly, as stated before, initially this girl listed herself as 18 on an app designed for dating and romance. Second, even after, I was told she was still of age of consent. Third, in her statement to the police, she admitted it was completely consensual, she never told me her real age, and that she had lied multiple times about her supposed age, and had stated to have sent pornographic images of herself to users she met on Tinder (I am not included in those users). This, and the police, even the judge himself, admitted that through her statement, actions, and psychological evaluation, that she showed no indication of appearing as a 12 year old. Using vulgar language, having knowledge of sexual acts, and even previous sexual experience. With this in mind, I was charged with a 5 year deferred conviction of an F5 felony for attempted sexual assault on a child, with the stipulation of probation, sex offender treatment, sex offender registration, and many, many, other restrictions. These restrictions include, but are not limited to: Employment limitations, living situation stipulations, unable to practice the 2nd amendment, own or consume alcohol, restricted movement without prior approval, and more. So far I have unable to gain employment, a place to live, and have been ostracized by society, as I am branded as a sex offender. The impact that this has had on my life has been absolutely horrid, I am unable to progress through life because of my title, living in a tighter knit community does not help either. That, and because of where I live, job opportunities are few and far between. Moving is not currently an option, as I cannot support myself, so I am stuck in the situation of living with my parents. I cannot find work, a residence of my own, and experience many other hardships. Again, putting the emotional distress into words is near impossible.

However, I feel there is a factor in all of this, that I have yet to elaborate on, that is even more upsetting than what I am "going through", so to speak. The vetting process and security of the worlds largest dating and romance app, Tinder. In the year 2019, Tinders revenue was 1.2 billion USD. Not a small amount. The question rises, however, with all of that money, why is there not vetting outside clicking a box and having a facebook account? If the stipulation of using the app is being 18, should there not be a to enforce this to a greater extent? Tinder was created for the intention of romantic interaction, which can easily be translated to meeting someone in person, that was first contacted through Tinder. Uber, a driving service, requires some form of identification in the scenario an event transpires that requires the authorities or insurance providers to be involved. Why does this not exist for Tinder? The technology exists to scan identification cards, such as licenses, so what reasoning exists to not implement this in an environment where much bigger consequences can occur? I'm going to present a hypothetical, let's say a 12 year old girl, a child who does not know the consequences their actions can have, signs up through Tinder. As I stated before, all it takes is a phone number or facebook account. According to a Nielsen report released in February 2017, approximately 45 percent of U.S. children between the ages of 10-12 had their own smartphone with a service plan (Source: https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2018/10/children-and-cell-phones#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20Nielsen%20report,smartphone%20with%20a%20service%20plan.&text=The%20ability%20to%20communicate%20in,a%20thing%20of%20the%20past.). This was in 2017, so you can imagine that this number has grown since then. So, nearly half of children in America have their own cell phone plan and number, and my case is proof a 12 year old can easily sign up to Tinder with ease. This enables half of the children in America to have the ability to sign up to a dating app with ease. That ease of access is disgusting. As I stated before, a 12 year old child has no concept of what the consequences that can come from this. Let me present a second scenario. The girl in my case had not met me, but had met someone malicious, a sexually violent predator. They agree to meet, and this person could rape or kill a 12 year old child, who could not even fathom this possibility. This could easily be prevented through a vetting system requiring identification. A 12 year old cannot comprehend the idea of meeting someone through a dating app like tinder that could do horrible things, but with a vetting system in place, that 12 year old would never be put in that scenario.

I am writing this email to not only my case could have been prevented, but how it's only a matter of time until that awful scenario I previously presented comes to light. There is no excuse for a company that has billions of dollars to not create a vetting system to prevent children from harm. This is unacceptable, that this company could advertise a service that is explicitly made for romantic encounters, and not have enough security to prevent children from accessing it with ease. Tinders tagline is "Match. Chat. Date". Merriam-Webster defines "Date" as "an appointment to meet at a specified time." I'm sure you can understand where I'm going with this, the app is not made to chat, it is advertised with the idea in mind you will PHYSICALLY meet with someone. With this in mind, it's not hard to come to the conclusion that if an app is made with the intention of physical meeting, there should be a way to prevent children from accessing a service with such intentions. Also worth mentioning is that Tinder requires location tracking to be active, and every profile plainly states the distance between you and the other person, measured in miles. As stated before, my letter is not only intended to express my hardships, but bring to light an issue that could cause children to be put into danger. My goal for legal action taken against Tinder is two things. Firstly, gain reparation for what has happened to me. If Tinder required vetting, I would never have the interaction with the girl in this case, and would never have been fooled into believing she was 18 years old. The girl would also have not been put in danger, had vetting been in place. The second, and most important matter, is lobbying for a law, or terms of service, that requires Tinder, and other apps intended for dating, to require vetting, to prevent the ability of children accessing dangerous tools. This obligation must be put in place, it is Tinders civil duty to prevent children from being put in harms way, there is absolutely no excuse for not having vetting software implemented, as the technology exists, and Tinder is more than in a good financial situation to afford said implementation.