In a recent escalation of psychological tactics against Iran, the US military has issued a warning to the Islamic State and its affiliated terrorist groups, cautioning them against attacking the United States and its allies.
The US military conveyed this message through the Tinder dating app, broadcasting it across Lebanon, as reported by the Washington Post.
The profiles, written in Arabic, warned, “Do not take up arms against the United States or its partners,” and emphasized that the US “will protect its partners against threats from the Iranian regime and its proxies.” The message was accompanied by images of US warplanes. The use of Tinder, a platform primarily known for dating and social interactions, for such a direct military communication surprised many.
Tinder, known for its “swipe right” (to accept a match) and “swipe left” (to reject a match) features, is an unconventional choice for military messaging. A US official familiar with the ad campaign confirmed to the Post that it was associated with CENTCOM.
Meanwhile, Lebanon-based freelance writer Séamus Malekafzali shared on X that he had seen an ad on Tinder in Lebanon from CENTCOM in Arabic, stating, “Do not take arms against the US and its partners,” and mentioning that F-16s and A-10s were ready to act, highlighting the US’s commitment to protecting its partners from threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies.
Following this, Tinder withdrew the advertisement. A defense official explained to the source that the Department of Defense conducts military information operations to support “national security priorities,” and these must comply with US law and DOD policy, underscoring their commitment to adhering to these guidelines.
According to the Post, the use of the most popular dating app in the US to deliver the military’s message raised questions about the military’s online communication strategies.
Several officials and scholars criticized the use of Tinder for such messages, arguing it was ineffective in reaching a broad audience and described it as “an unforced error or laziness.”
The message was perceived as a direct threat to Iran, warning against its threats to destroy Israel, the Post reported. Tehran has frequently pledged to retaliate for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. Tinder removed the ad after being contacted by the Post, citing a violation of its policies on violence and political messaging.
