After being hinted at occasionally in interviews and press releases, Grindr has introduced its Right Now feature for all users. Aimed at enabling users to broadcast their availability and intentions in real time, the live feed allows individuals to post short-term status updates – including text and photos – that remain visible for just one hour, offering a faster way to coordinate meetups with nearby users.
Unlike Grindr’s conventional grid, which displays profiles based on proximity, Right Now functions more like a social feed. Users can indicate that they’re ready to host or specify what they’re seeking, reducing ambiguity and the need for back-and-forth messaging – and since the post is only visible for one hour, users can create posts seeking immediate responses without worrying about the post lingering and getting more interactions when it’s no longer relevant.
According to Chief Product Officer AJ Balance, Right Now was developed in response to user feedback seeking a more intention-based way to connect. “We built this intention-based feature based on feedback from our community,” he said, “so they can connect with like-minded people without wasting time on mismatched expectations.”
After a limited rollout in March, high engagement levels prompted Grindr to fast-track its global release. While usage is initially limited to a few free sessions per week, users will be able to purchase additional access depending on their location.
The introduction of Right Now is part of a broader strategic overhaul for Grindr, which includes the rollout of AI-driven features such as A-List, a chat summarizer, and Wingman, an automated flirting assistant. These updates are part of Grindr’s efforts to rebrand following its challenging IPO and to adapt to changing user expectations around instant communication.
