Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, Meetic, PlentyOfFish… all these apps belong to Match Group, a publicly traded multinational that monetizes your photos, your preferences, your location, and your private conversations. Their algorithm isn't designed to find you love — it's designed to keep you on the app as long as possible.
Free alternatives exist (Alovoa, Firefly, Duolicious) but all suffer from the same problem: not enough users locally. You end up swiping into the void. This project aims to break this vicious circle by coordinating a collective migration to a privacy-respecting alternative.
Phase 1 — Choose or create an alternative: evaluate existing open source apps (Alovoa, Duolicious) and select the most suitable one. If none works, develop a local prototype with lightweight tech (React Native + open source backend).
Phase 2 — Critical mass effect: organize a 'Grand Switch' — a specific date where hundreds of people uninstall Match Group apps and migrate together to the alternative. The value of a dating app is the number of users. We solve the chicken-and-egg problem through collective action.
Phase 3 — Key features: matching based on values (not just photos), zero ads, zero tracking, end-to-end encrypted data, community moderation.
The key is critical mass. We aim for 2000 registered users before launch day. Strategy:
- Partnerships with universities
- IRL launch events (bars, cafés, parks) — meet people BEFORE matching
- Ambassadors in each neighborhood to recruit their circles
- 'Delete Match Group Day' campaign on social media
- No ad budget: only word-of-mouth and community organizing
Evaluate free alternatives: Alovoa, Duolicious, Firefly, etc. Criteria: open source (license), data encryption, mobile UX, tech stack, active community, ease of contribution. Produce a comparative report and a recommendation.
Participation : 0 / 3
Frequence : Ponctuelle
Echeance : 31/10/2026
Lieu : En ligne
Competences requises : informatique
Remuneration : non
Develop or adapt the backend: REST API, PostgreSQL database, authentication without phone number (email + public key), matching algorithm based on declared preferences (no opaque ML), message encryption. Stack: Node.js or Rust, PostgreSQL, Docker.
Participation : 0 / 3
Frequence : Continue, toute l'annee
Echeance : 29/10/2026
Lieu : En ligne
Competences requises : informatique
Remuneration : non
Recruit 100-200 beta testers to test the app before public launch. Rapid iterations, feedback loops, bug fixes. Include diverse profiles: ages, genders, orientations, neighborhoods. Their feedback will determine development priorities.
Participation : 0 / 100
Frequence : Recurrente - mercredi, vendredi
Echeance : 30/10/2026
Lieu : Lieu public - Montréal (tous les quartiers)
Competences requises : informatique, communication
Remuneration : non
Create and distribute the viral campaign: striking visuals, short videos (TikTok/Reels), Twitter thread, Instagram stories, posters in transit. Message: 'Your data is worth more than their Premium subscription. Take back control.' Hashtag: #FreeDating #DeleteMatchGroup. Countdown to D-Day.
Participation : 0 / 3
Frequence : Continue, toute l'annee
Echeance : 05/11/2026
Lieu : En ligne
Competences requises : communication, photo-video
Remuneration : non
Set up infrastructure: servers (Hetzner or OVH), database, CDN for photos, monitoring, backups, scaling. Estimated budget: $100-200/month funded by community donations. ISO 27001 or SOC2 certification eventually for credibility.
Participation : 0 / 2
Frequence : Ponctuelle
Echeance : 01/11/2026
Lieu : En ligne
Competences requises : informatique, comptabilite
Remuneration : non
Organize 5 launch events in different neighborhoods: 'Come match IRL' evenings where people meet before installing the app. Format: community speed-dating, live music, anti-Match Group stickers.
Participation : 0 / 5
Frequence : Ponctuelle
Echeance : 30/09/2026
Lieu : Lieu public - Divers bars et cafés à Montréal (Plateau, Mile End, Villeray, Centre-ville, Hochelaga)
Competences requises : communication, logistique
Remuneration : non
Contact student associations and computer science/sociology departments at local universities. Propose partnerships: communication relay, student projects (internships, credits), launch events on campuses. The 18-25 age group is the core target.
Participation : 0 / 2
Frequence : Ponctuelle
Echeance : 05/11/2026
Lieu : Lieu public - Campus universitaires, Montréal
Competences requises : communication, enseignement
Remuneration : non
Create the app's visual identity: logo, palette, typography, icons, illustrations. Design the UX: onboarding flow, swipe, chat, privacy settings. User testing. The app must be beautiful to compete with Tinder, but transparent about what it does with your data.
Participation : 0 / 2
Frequence : Continue, toute l'annee
Echeance : 02/11/2026
Lieu : En ligne
Competences requises : design
Remuneration : non
Recruit 1-2 ambassadors per neighborhood (15-20 neighborhoods). Their role: talk about the app to their circle, distribute flyers, manage a local WhatsApp/Signal group, organize neighborhood meetups. Goal: 50-100 registrations per neighborhood before launch.
Participation : 0 / 20
Frequence : Continue, toute l'annee
Echeance : 24/10/2026
Lieu : Lieu public - Tous les quartiers de Montréal
Competences requises : communication
Remuneration : non
Develop iOS + Android mobile app in React Native. MVP features: profile creation (photos + bio + values), discovery (swipe), match + chat, filters (age, distance, intentions), 'IRL meetups' mode (geolocation of events). Clean design, no dark patterns.
Participation : 0 / 4
Frequence : Continue, toute l'annee
Echeance : 22/09/2026
Lieu : En ligne
Competences requises : informatique, design
Remuneration : non
Write community rules: code of conduct, anti-harassment policy, reporting, moderation. Set up a team of trained volunteer moderators. The alternative must be safer than Tinder, not just more ethical.
Participation : 0 / 3
Frequence : Continue, toute l'annee
Echeance : 28/10/2026
Lieu : En ligne
Competences requises : communication, juridique
Remuneration : non
D-DAY. Symbolic date (e.g., alternative Valentine's Day, winter solstice). All registered users uninstall their Match Group apps and join the new app. Online event (Twitch live) + simultaneous IRL events in partner cafés. Goal: 2000 active users on launch day to reach critical mass.
Participation : 0 / 15
Frequence : Ponctuelle
Echeance : 25/09/2026
Lieu : Lieu public - Événement diffusé depuis Montréal — cafés partenaires dans tous les quartiers
Competences requises : communication, logistique
Remuneration : non
Consult a lawyer specialized in digital law for: GDPR compliance (and equivalent local regulations), terms of use, privacy policy, informed consent, right to be forgotten. The app must be legally impeccable — that's its selling point.
Participation : 0 / 1
Frequence : Ponctuelle
Echeance : 14/10/2026
Lieu : En ligne
Competences requises : juridique
Remuneration : non