TECH CRUNCH – Dec 20 – Dating app Hinge is introducing its own take on how conversations on dating apps should be handled with a new feature calling "Your Turn." "Your Turn" lets users decide – regardless of gender – who makes the first move, and then reminds users when it's their turn to respond. Hinge says it tested the feature last week in London and Washington, D.C. and found that it decreased the number of matches that don't lead to a conversation by 25%.
Month: December 2017
Peak Dating Season Is Coming, According To Match
USA TODAY – Dec 20 – According to Match, peak dating season begins Dec. 26 and runs through Valentine's Day, with the dating site seeing 50M messages sent and 1M dates taking place during peak season. Online dating's busiest day of the year falls on Sunday, Jan. 7. Match says 8:55PM ET on Jan. 7 is the best time to sign up for online dating, when Match plans to see a 42% spike in new singles looking for love.
Dating Site Sentimente.com Launches Personalized Dashboard Using WallY
Grindr’s Magazine INTO Partners With The Tenth Magazine
LGBT WEEKLY – Dec 20 – The Tenth Magazine, a biannual publication that engages the world's most talented LGBTQ artists and intellectuals has partnered with INTO, Grindr's newly minted queer magazine. As a part of the collaboration, The Tenth will release their latest issue – THE ROMANTICS, Jan. 27, 2018 and host one article from it on INTOmore.com as a preview starting today. The event marks the first time The Tenth, which has purposefully maintained only a print edition, has published content online and is exemplary of how INTO supports the work of other queer artists and publications. The Tenth Magazine and INTO will also host "THE ROMANTICS EXHIBITION," a photography show and cocktail party at New York State's oldest theater, Hudson Opera Hall Feb. 3 from 4-7pm.
Coffee Meets Bagel Opens Seattle Office
GEEKWIRE – Dec 19 – San Francisco-based startup Coffee Meets Bagel, is opening a new Seattle office. The office is the company's first location outside the Bay Area and will house three employees for the time being. Coffee Meets Bagel sends up to six curated matches to women on the platform each day and up to 21 curated matches to men.
by Clare McGrane
See full article at Geekwire
Indian Parents Are Setting Up Dating Profiles For Their Single Children
LOVE TV – Dec 20 – Murugavel Janakiraman, the founder and CEO Matrimony.com told Online Personals Watch editor Mark Brooks that parents oftentimes set up profiles for their children and seek out mates on their behalf. In India, a lot has changed over the decades, but arranged marriages remain. Matrimony.com uses behavioral sciences to better match people. While many are looking for marriage and the perfect long term relationship, some have rejected the whole system. One bachelor in India confessed that he's more interested in hook-up apps thank thinking about his future wife.
by Sarah Burris
See full article at Love TV
Match Group Partners With Univision Communications To Launch Free Dating App For Latino Singles
PR NEWSWIRE – Dec 19 – Match Group and Univision Communications (Leading media company serving Hispanic America) are launching Chispa, a new free dating app to match, chat and meet Latino singles. The Chispa dating app will incorporate an easy-to-use, swipe functionality giving users a simple way to connect with potential matches that peak their interest. The app allows for Facebook and SMS sign on for a simple and easy registration process.
The full article was originally published at Match Group website, but is no longer available.
The Meet Group Announces Selected Preliminary Q4 And Full Year 2017 Financial Results
BUSINESSWIRE – Dec 19 – Revenue to be at or above the high end of its prior outlook of $36.5M to $38M; and adjusted EBITDA to be near or above the high end of its prior outlook of $7.5M to $9.5M. The full year revenue is expected to be $121.6M. "We are pleased to deliver strong preliminary results for the fourth quarter," said Geoff Cook, CEO of The Meet Group. "While still a small component of total revenue, monetization of our video product has been accelerating. In the past five weeks, average revenue per daily active user for MeetMe Live users in the US doubled to 20 cents, up from 10 cents just five weeks ago. We believe this has been largely driven by the initial success of our new video gifting product on our MeetMe app."
See full article at The Meet Group website
Courtland Brooks To Discuss The Gay Online Dating Market At iDate In January
WEBWIRE – Dec 19 – Phil Henricks, consultant at Courtland Brooks, will speak about the gay online dating market at the iDate Conference taking place on January 24 – 26, 2018 at the Hyatt Place in Delray Beach, Florida.
Dating App Bumble Sends Open Letter To Abusive User
KVUE – Dec 14 – Bumble stood up for one of their female users who claimed she was harassed by a man and told that she should put more effort into "looking tip-top." Bumble sent him this open letter Bumble noted that they were alerted to the abuse and obtained screenshots. They explained they did not violate any user's privacy, however, they have taken steps to block users who do not follow Bumbles Terms of Service.
by Brittany Daniel
See full article at KVUE