Yoel Roth, formerly Twitter’s ex-chief of trust and safety, has recently transitioned into an analogous position at Match Group, a conglomerate managing various dating applications. Accentuated by Elon Musk’s high-profile acquisition of Twitter in 2022, Roth’s career move is set to support his continued dedication to cultivating online safety.
In his previous role at Twitter, Roth earned commendations for his ability to moderate content effectively. Following his departure, he turned his focus to consultancy and research, primarily in the domain of decentralized social networks, and made significant contributions to initiatives such as Bluesky.
At Match Group, Roth applies his deep understanding of online behaviour and technology’s role in shaping user safety, gained through years of focused study and his doctoral research in 2016. His research, examined the intersection of gay culture, identity, and safety on geo-location-based dating apps like Grindr. Roth’s expertise has been key in advancing internet safety measures for the broader online dating sector and the LGBTQ+ community.
Roth acknowledges the unique challenges of content moderation in dating apps. These platforms confront distinct problems such as scams, fraudulent activity, and real-life threats, as evident from the tourist deaths in Colombia in 2023 linked to Tinder. In response, he proposes enhanced content moderation strategies that maintain a balance between user safety and freedom of expression to reduce the platforms becoming an avenue for harmful activities. Roth also calls for increased collaboration between app creators and law enforcement agencies towards improved user verification, to curb escalating fraudulent activities.
At Match Group, Roth is actively involved in formulating universal or brand-specific guidelines across all of the company’s brands to ensure user safety. He asserts that app stores should collaborate in safeguarding users on dating apps hence, contributing to a safer digital environment.
Though Roth has only been with Match Group for a couple of weeks, he is already dedicated to improving user safety on dating apps. Leveraging his past professional experience, he is committed to enhancing online safety for all users of dating applications.
