PRNEWSWIRE – True for Two has launched in the U.S. with a focus on singles seeking marriage and long-term relationships. The platform uses an extensive onboarding process to assess values, lifestyle preferences, family goals, and future plans before matching users. Rather than maximizing match volume, the app aims to identify major incompatibilities early and encourage more intentional dating. True for Two began testing in Dallas and is now expanding nationwide.
MASHABLE – Archer, the gay dating app launched by Match Group in 2023, will shut down on June 17. The closure follows Match’s recent $100M investment in gay app Sniffies and signals a shift in focus within its LGBTQ+ portfolio. Archer positioned itself as a more relationship-oriented alternative to hookup apps and reached ~685K downloads in its first year, but struggled to gain meaningful scale in a market dominated by competitors such as Grindr.
PARSHIP – A survey of ~3K Germans conducted by Parship and market research firm INNOFACT found that singles over 40 take different approaches to discussing future goals when dating. Among singles aged 40-49, 29% want to discuss topics such as family, career, and where to live during the first few dates. In contrast, 40% of singles in their 50s prefer to observe first and see whether life goals align before raising the subject. Among those aged 60-69, 18% say future plans are not important in a relationship, suggesting a greater focus on companionship in the present.
FEMALE FIRST – For most of human history, men did not really need to understand women. They only needed women to fit a role. Women have changed faster than men, and many men are still struggling to comprehend the scale of that transformation. Modern women are increasingly constructing entirely new identities around autonomy, agency, education, self-development, and emotional self-definition, and are more educated than men in many countries. More financially independent. More socially connected. More politically vocal. More psychologically self-aware. And crucially, less willing to tolerate relationships that diminish them emotionally or intellectually.
Men will need to abandon the fantasy that masculinity is weakened by empathy. Empathy, emotional intelligence, and listening are not signs of weakness or submission. Boys need to be raised differently. Not less masculine, but more emotionally capable. Men must accept that women’s independence is not a threat. Women are not evolving around men anymore, but increasingly around themselves.
See full article at Female First
Mark Brooks: I believe if women were as physically strong as men, then the roles would be largely reversed. Physical strength will become less of a priority, so women will take the fore. I’m interviewing Dr. Stephen Whitehead, the author of this article, today at LTR. Slightly controversial and definitely interesting stuff, and highly relevant to online dating, of course.
TECH CRUNCH – Milan-based company WeRoad has raised $58M in a Series C round led by Airbnb as it prepares to expand into the U.S., starting with Austin. The company generated €130M ($148M) in revenue in 2025 and took ~100K travelers on group trips. In 2025, WeRoad also launched WeMeet, an app focused on local in-person gatherings such as dinners, hikes, yoga classes, running groups, after-work drinks, and board game nights. ~50K people attended WeMeet events across 35 cities last year, while the app reached 150K downloads. WeRoad says WeMeet will play a central role in its U.S. expansion strategy, helping it build local communities before expanding further.
See full article at Tech Crunch
Mark Brooks: This is one to watch. We Road runs great escapes. We Meet is their social play. It’s proving more challenging than they thought to get the social play up and running.
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BBC – Jackie Jantos says many Gen Z singles want relationships but lack the confidence to initiate conversations, making AI tools useful for breaking the ice. She argues Hinge’s AI features are designed to help users express themselves rather than replace genuine interaction. Jantos also pointed to declining in-person socialization, loneliness, and the lasting effects of the pandemic as factors making dating more challenging for young adults. Despite growing discussion of dating app burnout, Hinge continues to grow in the UK, reaching 1.5M users.
TABLET – Matchmaking is thriving despite the rise of dating apps. The number of matchmakers registered with the Global Love Institute has grown from ~1K to ~10K in the past six years, as more singles turn to personalized matchmaking services. Once a niche profession, matchmaking now serves a broad range of clients and interests. However, many matchmakers say today’s singles have become more difficult to match, with changing expectations and attitudes toward dating and relationships.
VICE – A growing number of Gen Z singles say they have lost enthusiasm for dating. Experts point to dating app fatigue, financial stress, fear of rejection, social isolation, and hookup culture as key reasons. Many young people feel disconnected from romance and are less optimistic about finding relationships than previous generations.
BLOOMBERG – Grindr CEO George Arison said the company is evolving beyond dating to become a “global gayborhood,” as the platform continues to expand its role in helping users connect for relationships, friendships, and community. Arison said Grindr has delivered ~25% annual growth over the last four years and claimed that 50% of gay relationships now start on the app. He also said attitudes toward long-term relationships are changing, with more gay men seeking serious relationships than in previous years. According to Grindr’s research, more than half of gay men under 35 say they want a long-term relationship, while 25% want children, a shift he attributed in part to the growing recognition of same-sex marriage. Arison highlighted AI as a major investment area for the company and said 80% of Grindr’s code is now generated by AI. He also discussed the role Grindr plays in countries where LGBTQ+ people face restrictions.