Tinder has added encryption to its app, to ensure that people’s swiping activity is for their eyes only. Given its place at the intersection of romantic intimacy and data sensitivity, Tinder is taking more steps to make people feel safe and secure when looking for love online.

In online interactions, swiping is one of the most common motions, second only to scrolling, but how can design help nudge people into making decisions? Canvas8 spoke with Dr. Mario Pandelaere, associate professor in marketing at Pamplin College of Business, to find out.

Snapchat is encouraging users to check their friend lists and remove anyone who isn’t a real friend. The move aims to keep people safe, differentiating the app from other social media platforms as an intimate space for genuine connections – something young people are hungry for.

Whether on the search for a hook-up or something longer-lasting, digital dating platforms have become the first port of call for many singletons. Canvas8 spoke to three experts to learn more about the modern romance landscape and to find out whether apps have killed the long-term relationship.