THETAB.COM – Nov 20 – Tinder's algorithm uses its very own "desirability" ranking, called an "Elo ranking" which pairs people. Every user has a rating on Tinder, and they can only swipe through people of a similar rating. If users have low ranking, they'll see people with low rankings too. The rating is technically not a measure of attractiveness, but a measure of "desirability," according to Sean Rad, founder and former CEO of Tinder. "It's not just how many people swipe right on you," he said. "It's very complicated. It took us two and a half months just to build the algorithm because a lot of factors go into it."
Month: November 2018
Coffee Meets Bagel User Files Suit Over Alleged Lack of Refund Policy
COOK COUNTRY RECORD – Nov 20 – Pandi Rrapo has filed a class action complaint in Cook County Circuit Court against Coffee Meets Bagel, alleging violation of the Illinois Dating Referral Services Act (DRSA). He alleges the dating app failed to offer a refund after he canceled premium services within three days of enrollment.
by Jenie Mallari-Torres
See full article at Cook County Record
Whitney Wolfe Herd on Bumble New Snooze Feature
VOGUE – Nov 20 – On a recent trip to China, Whitney Wolfe Herd found herself inadvertently off social media. "I had a full panic for the first 48 hours and I was almost going through a withdrawal, which is terrifying in itself," she says, appalled, but laughing. "But after 48 hours, I didn't want it anymore. I was so present, it was like my senses were re-activated." Months later, Wolfe Herd launched a new feature on Bumble: Snooze. Snooze allows users to go offline very politely. "A lot of big companies have stayed away from this, because they don't want to cannibalize their business. It's a very courageous move as a company, but we truly believe that it's needed and necessary," she says firmly.
Lumen, the Dating App for 50+ to Launch in Ireland
MARKETING.IE – Nov 20 – Lumen founder and dating expert Charly Lester will be in Dublin this week for the launch. Lumen raised £3.5M from Andrey Andreev, the Founder of Badoo.
Gay Dating App, Blued Launches #whatsnext377 Campaign
BUSINESS-STANDARD – Nov 20 – Blued, the largest gay dating app globally, has launched #whatsnext377 campaign in India, aiming to strengthen and spread awareness about the LGBTQI community and its rights. According to the Section 377, the Supreme Court judgment ruled that 'consensual adult gay sex is not crime, saying sexual orientation is natural and people have no control over it'.
In the Elevator With Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd
Lawyers Call for Tougher Rules for Online Dating
CHANNEL4 – Nov 19 – According to a study, 80% of online daters misrepresent themselves on dating sites/apps. Lying about age, weight, or using a more flattering photo is a normal practice on dating sites. Well, maybe not, especially if it's treated as sexual fraud. Lawyers are calling for tougher rules governing online dating to make catfishing for sex a crime. Anna Rowe, a victim of such a fraud, started a petition to make catfishing a crime. Anna fell in love with a man she met online. After 14 months of dating, she discovered that he was using fake identity, was married and actively having relationships with multiple women simultaneously. 44K people have already signed the petition. Prof. Irina Manta specializes in intellectual property law in the state of New York. She wrote a paper – Tinder Lies and an article in Washington Post calling for change in the law in the USA.
Match CEO Mandy Ginsberg to Speak at Ignition 2018 Next Month
BUSINESS INSIDER – Nov 19 – Match Group has been tangled up in a lawsuit – and countersuit – with Bumble since March. In May, Facebook announced plans to launch Facebook dating. Match Group is faced with the challenge of defending their market share. Match CEO Mandy Ginsberg will be discussing that at IGNITION 2018, Business Insider's flagship conference, in December 3-4, 2018 in New York.
Law Professor Wants to Make Catfishing for Sex a Crime
Gay Dating App Chappy Hires New Managing Director
GAY STAR BUSINESS – Nov 18 – Back in September, gay dating app Chappy relaunched. The sibling app of Bumble, where women must make the first move, Chappy hopes to empower gay men in a similar way. With the relaunch, users can specify the type of relationship they're looking for. Adam Cohen-Aslatei recently became Chappy's new Managing Director. "Our industry tends to have few gay leaders in top positions, and that's one reason I am so honored to be in this role," he said. 'We believe everyone in our community deserves a better way to meet new people and build relationships,' Cohen-Aslatei states of Chappy's goals. 'We also solve some of the most frustrating gay dating pain point. Endless torso scrolling is dead. All of our profile pictures feature a face and a name. Our bios are descriptive and we have a zero tolerance for hate and discrimination. All Chappy members sign a pledge to treat people with kindness and respect. Also, all profiles are verified.'