Grindr private albums go missing due to a technical glitch

Grindr is a popular dating app for the LGBTQ+ community, but it has recently found itself in hot water with its users. Over the past few days, a significant number of Grindr users have reported that their private albums have mysteriously vanished, leaving behind only blank screens and error messages.

The reports have flooded social media platforms, with users expressing their frustration and dismay. Users say the albums they’ve received from other people have completely stopped working. They show a grey screen with a reload error. For others, almost all of them had all photos and videos removed.

The issue appears to be widespread, affecting both Android and iOS users, and is likely linked to recent app updates. Grindr has acknowledged the glitch on X, stating that it was caused by a “technical issue” during a “routine data migration” to their updated cloud storage. This migration, unfortunately, resulted in the permanent deletion of numerous images and videos.

Grindr has assured users that their albums are still functional and encouraged them to re-upload their content. However, this response has done little to appease frustrated users who feel that their trust has been violated. And the lack of information regarding measures to prevent similar incidents in the future will only fuel their concerns.

This incident is not the first time Grindr has faced criticism for its handling of user data. Grindr is currently facing a lawsuit in the UK for allegedly sharing users’ HIV status with third-party companies. The company is also subject of another lawsuit for laying off nearly half of its staff after attempting to force a return to office policy.

The combination of these events has led some users to question the app’s overall stability and commitment to user privacy. One user, who pays for a monthly subscription, expressed their disappointment: “What a crappy app; I cannot believe I pay a monthly subscription for this shit.”

As of May 20, Grindr stated on X that they are “actively working through” the issue and attempting to restore as many images as possible. They continue to ask for users’ patience and understanding.

UPDATE: We are actively working through a technical issue which is causing images in some private albums to be unavailable for certain users. We are working to restore as many of these as possible; in the interim, albums are currently working as normal, so you are able to upload…

— Grindr (@Grindr) May 20, 2024

For many Grindr users, their private albums hold significant personal and intimate content. The loss of this content, coupled with Grindr’s recent troubles, has created a sense of unease within the community. It remains to be seen how Grindr will address these issues and regain the trust of its users.

In the meantime, users are left with the difficult task of re-uploading their photos and videos, with the lingering fear that a similar incident could happen again.