Sex Trafficking Victims Will Soon Be Showing Up On Tinder In Ireland

Tinder users in Ireland could get a surprise when they open the dating app to swipe left or right.

An advertising agency is bringing shocking photos of sex trafficking victims to the app in an effort to raise awareness of the issue. The project was launched by the Immigrant Council of Ireland, and will show models standing in for trafficking victims alongside real profile matches.

The women appear in a series of photos that grow progressively more serious. In one, a woman is seen with more and more bruises. In another, it is revealed that a smiling woman is actually being held against her will.

The ad agency, EightyTwenty, said the Tinder campaign is the first of its kind.

“We’ve just launched a new campaign on Tinder on behalf of the Immigration Council of Ireland to create awareness about sex trafficking in Ireland,” the agency noted. “It’s one of the first campaigns globally of this nature on Tinder, and raises awareness about the crimes behind sex trafficking and prostitution using Tinder profiles to tell stories about victims of trafficking. There are a large number of these profiles live on Tinder at the moment and feedback from people viewing has been great so far.”

The agency noted that sex trafficking is one of the biggest worldwide problems. The Immigrant Council of Ireland has worked with women brought to the country to be sexually exploited, EightyTwenty noted.

“Sex trafficking is one of the most lucrative crimes with the sums involved on a par with those for drug smuggling and gun running, yet many people are not aware that it is a reality in communities right across Ireland,” the council noted. “The Immigrant Council of Ireland is committed to using every possible opportunity to increase awareness about the activities of the thugs behind these crimes and the impact on their victims.”

“As a frontline agency, we have supported 60 women who were brought here to be sexually exploited while Senior Gardaí confirm that Irish prostitution is run by foreign and domestic criminal gangs in a trade thought to net over €200m a year. It is important that men of all ages who buy sex are made aware of the consequences of their actions. We are delighted to partner with the team at eightytwenty to bring this important message to an audience which is difficult to reach through traditional media.”

Viewers who want to know more about the Tinder campaign to raise awareness for sex trafficking can click here.