‘Let’s do Polygamy’ dating app stirs debate in Indonesia

"AyoPoligami", an app made by Lindu Pranayama, is designed for married men to find another wife, filling a gap in dating apps that Pranayama had noticed. The"Tinder-style" app comes with the tagline of bring together male users with women who are willing to make 'big families'." Though launched in April, this app has caused a stir in Indonesia where polygamy (up to 4 wives, as in accordance with a reading of the Qur'an) is legal and Muslims make up about 80% of the population. This is because the requirements for polygamy is needing a court to okay the marriage after getting the permission of the first wife. Moreover, even if one has gotten permission (no word in the article if said permission must be without coercion or what happens in that sort of case), a lawyer interviewed in the article states "Indonesian courts will only give permission if the first wife is disabled, ill or cannot bear children." In other words, it is still even difficult to receive the court's approval.

Essentially this app does away with that. A man can sign up for without the state and his wife knowing. As such points were being raised, the app stopped registering new members, planning to update and relaunch in October with "stricter rules on users including requiring them to provide an identification card, marital status and a letter of permission from their first wives." Of course such changes makes one wonder if the app will still be popular because it seems dating apps thrive more on ease of use, rather than needing all of this personal information.

What is interesting about this article is different types of reactions to this app. Pranayama and one of the users interviewed see it as filling a space that has yet to be filled. Much like the laundromat services in Malaysia, this app hopes to thrive in these spaces were Muslims who are looking for these "Islamic things" are. But, just as important, is Indonesia's own practice of Islam and law: the polygamy rule exists, but have restrictions that the app itself does not account for. How do we balance this catering technology for a modern Muslim with the state's idea of Islamic law? Moreover, how do we set this app with the discussion of gender in Indonesia as some see this as normalizing polygamy as believed by the National Commission on Violence against Women and others like Indonesia's Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry believe "it was up to individuals if they wanted to use the app because polygamy is legal as long as it can be done in a fair manner"?