A Manifesto by On Deck Society
The Lovers'
Bill of Rights
48 Declarations for the Future of Dating
THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY
You have the right to control who sees your profile. Not an algorithm. You.
You have the right to a platform that doesn't sell your data to advertisers.
You have the right to privacy that gets stronger the more you share, not weaker.
THE RIGHT TO CONSENT
You have the right to a dating experience where consent isn't an afterthought; it's the architecture.
You have the right to set boundaries before a single message is sent.
You have the right to a platform built on mutual opt-in, not algorithmic ambush.
THE RIGHT TO HONESTY
You have the right to profiles that show who people actually are.
You have the right to a platform with zero tolerance for fake profiles.
You have the right to know if someone is verified before you invest your time.
You have the right to a platform that doesn't manufacture fake matches to sell you upgrades.
You have the right to a platform that doesn't shadow ban you to force you to pay.
You have the right to a company that tells you exactly how it makes money.
THE RIGHT TO RESPECT
You have the right to a dating experience that doesn't feel like a casino.
You have the right to be treated like a person, not a data point.
You have the right to a platform that wants you to find someone, not stay single.
You have the right to a dating experience that doesn't leave you feeling worse than before.
You have the right to be more than a photo and a 500-character bio.
THE RIGHT TO SAFETY
You have the right to block someone and never hear from them again. Ever.
You have the right to report harassment and have it taken seriously, immediately.
You have the right to a platform where your physical safety is a design priority, not an afterthought.
You have the right to date without fear of being outed, stalked, or exposed.
You have the right to a platform that works just as hard to protect you as it does to connect you.
THE RIGHT TO EQUALITY
You have the right to a dating experience that works for you regardless of gender, orientation, race, or religion.
You have the right to filters that protect your identity, not exploit it.
You have the right to a platform where your community isn't a marketing demographic; it's a design priority.
You have the right to a dating experience that doesn't make women do all the emotional labor just to feel safe.
THE RIGHT TO AGENCY
You have the right to know there's no algorithm deciding your romantic future.
You have the right to choose your own criteria without being judged, overridden, or "nudged" by an algorithm.
You have the right to say "these are my dealbreakers" and have the platform respect them absolutely.
THE RIGHT TO QUALITY
You have the right to quality over quantity, always.
You have the right to a match that means something, not a notification designed to keep you scrolling.
You have the right to connections based on actual compatibility, not proximity and a photo.
You have the right to a platform that measures success by dates that happen, not messages that don't.
THE RIGHT TO FAIR PRICING
You have the right to honest pricing with no subscription traps.
You have the right to know what you're paying for, and what happens if you stop.
You have the right to a platform that earns your subscription, not tricks you into it.
THE RIGHT TO A VOICE
You have the right to a platform that actually asks what you want, and builds it.
You have the right to be heard. Not surveilled. Not analyzed. Heard.
You have the right to shape the product you use.
You have the right to a suggestion box that goes directly to the CEO.
THE RIGHT TO BETTER OUTCOMES
You have the right to a platform that helps you go on better dates, not just more matches.
You have the right to first date ideas that are actually good, not "let's get coffee" for the 47th time.
You have the right to a platform that cares what happens after you match.
THE RIGHT TO YOUR DATA
You have the right to a platform that uses your data to make your life better, not to sell you to advertisers.
You have the right to preference data that improves your experience, not someone else's profit margin.
You have the right to a company that treats your data as a tool for your benefit, not a product to be sold.
THE RIGHT TO SOMETHING BETTER
You have the right to believe that dating can be better than this.
You have the right to a platform that was built because someone was just as tired of this shit as you are.
The Lovers' Bill of Rights is a living document. As our community grows, so do these declarations. If you believe in these rights, join us at On Deck Society.
© On Deck Society