PAPER MAGAZINE – Apr 6 – When partners Amanda Wilson and David Epstein founded #Open in 2016, they sought to build a polyamorous dating app "by users for users." Recently, #Open was suspended from the Google Play app store for allegedly violating the company's "Sexual Content and Profanity policy." #Open submitted some routine changes to the app's ASO – AKA its app store optimization, which helps with an app's rankings and searchability. The keywords "threesomes," "3some," "DTF," and "kinky dates" were flagged by the store. "We're a small company. We have borrowed everything we have from friends and family and put it into this company," Wilson said. "It's just not okay to basically throw us out of their store and not have a dialogue or any real, tangible facts that we can look at."
Month: April 2021
Dating App BLK Grew During the Pandemic
ROLLINGOUT – Apr 6 – BLK, the leading Black dating app, grew exponentially during the pandemic. The app downloads have doubled YOY to 5M downloads. In the first two weeks of lockdown, the daily user activity increased by 18%. A year later, the daily activity remains strong [up 44% YOY], with an increase of 22% in daily in-app messages YOY. Compared to other dating apps specifically made for Black singles, BLK is the leader by far in terms of app downloads. For comparison – BLK – 5.06M; RBL – 125K; BlackCupid – 271K; and StraightBlackLove -13.7K.
Conversational Media ‘Holler’ Raises $36M in Series B
BUSYBODYTRIBUNE – Apr 6 – Holler's partners include Paypal-owned Venmo and The Meet Group, all focus on bringing more content to app messaging. They aim at enriching the conversations happening on media platforms. Holler aims at the creation and curation of the most compelling GIFs and stickers. They are brought to reality through Holler's Suggestion AI Technology. They take into consideration the context and content of the conversation.
The Biggest Dating App Flex Is Being Vaccinated, Says Tinder
REFINERY29 – Apr 6 – Dating app members have begun to use their bio pages to divulge whether or not they've received their COVID-19 vaccine. Some opt for a straight-forward "I'm vaccinated," while others go for the more playful, "I've got all my shots". Tinder's Future of Dating report found an eightfold increase in the word "vaccine" and a 20-fold increase in the word "antibodies" in member bios since the start of the pandemic. OKCupid has recently added, "Will you get the COVID-19 vaccine?" to the series of questions they ask their users.
Bumble Survey: People Believe in Falling in Love Before Meeting
METRO.CO.UK – Apr 6 – According to Bumble's survey, 67% of people now believe it's possible to fall in love with someone you haven't met in real life. Nearly half believe that the connection they've had with people virtually will translate when they can finally meet.
Q&A With Sugarbook’s Founder About the App’s Ban in Malaysia and His Arrest
Q: How have you been holding up?
A: I'm feeling fine. I'm handling the necessary legal stuff with my lawyers so we just have to hang in there and persevere. Our site is still accessible via VPN and that's not something we can control on our end. We've definitely seen more sign-ups coming from across Southeast Asia.
Q: How was the arrest?
A: I was in my car at my home lobby when three undercover police cars ambushed me from the front and back. I was definitely shocked but I also saw it coming. But I was treated fine. Nobody was hostile or rude.
Q: What is your view about the way Malaysian outlets have portrayed you and Sugarbook in their coverage?
A: Malaysian media outlets brand our members as prostitutes. This is not only unjust and inaccurate but it isn't right or fair. The entire episode in Malaysia has been blown out of proportion and become extremely ugly.
Q: There have been calls on social media for you to disclose the names of sugar daddies. What is your response to that?
A: We take data and privacy very seriously and will never compromise anyone's personal identity.
Q: What are your future plans going forward?
A: Most of the initial charges against Sugarbook and myself have been dropped, with only one charge against me and that is 'inciting fear to the public.' I will not fight the Malaysian government. I am definitely deliberating whether or not to exit the Malaysian market and am considering my next moves.
Announcing LTR Edition 7 – Match, Be2, Tawkify
OPW – Apr 5 – LTR stands for Love, Technology, Relationships. Think of is as an online TED for leaders of Internet dating companies and online social communities. This is where we meet, learn, and share.
LTR Edition 7 is on Thursday 15th April starting 11:30am EST (New York). We have a half hour of networking on virtual tables, three world-class speakers for 20 mins each plus a few mins Q&A, and then a final half hour of networking. 2.5 hours all-in.
If you hold a full time leadership role at an Internet dating company then you are welcome to join IDEA for free, and welcome to join LTR events for free. See the LTR Edition 7 overview, speakers and invite page here. Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com to RSVP for LTR. There are 80 places only.
LTR is kindly sponsored by RealMe, vPaaS by The Meet Group, Utopia Analytics, Tawkify, Real Gifts & Courtland Brooks.
Providing ID Before Opening a Social Media Account: Should It Be?
DAILYMAIL – Apr 5 – Australians have been left divided over the possibility of a radical overhaul of online dating, which would showing proof of ID to sign up to the platforms. Some have claimed the rules would lead to over-policing, but others agree it is a great idea for safer feeling and more confident to meet up with men and women. The discussion comes after a parliamentary committee released a report showing fraudsters and abusers could work from the apps with little risk of being caught. The Morrison government is expected to review the report and its recommendations and make a decision in coming weeks.
India’s Millionaire Matchmaking Services Promise Perfect Partners – for a Price
SCMP – Apr 5 – High-end services don't come cheap, and have minimum net worth requirements and background checks. Ultra Rich Match has offices across 14 Indian cities, New York and London. Market analysts say such firms fill a vacuum in the Indian marriage market – estimated to be worth about $50B USD according to KPMG. Ultra Rich Match clients pay $1k USD for the standard package, with an additional $2,500 USD fee to be paid on the wedding day, or $3k USD for the "royal package" for those with a net worth of at least $14M USD, with an additional $5k USD to be paid once the happy couple tie the knot. Most Indian high-end matchmaking services follow a similar pricing structure. Upwards of 10 million marriages take place each year in India.
More Japanese Trying Online Dating Amid Pandemic Limits
MAINICHI – Apr 3 – IBJ, based in Tokyo, offers a number of dating services. After the first state of emergency declaration spanning April to May 2020 was lifted, the company saw a rise in one-to-one meetings of potential marriage partners among its affiliated marriage consultation centers nationwide. In October 2020, a record 42,680 one-on-one meetings were held, and the number of couples getting engaged through their services was also its highest ever, with reportedly ~9,700 couples. A survey by Recruit Co.'s bridal research firm showed that 41.6% of singles who already had a desire to date and marry said their feelings about "wanting to marry someday" had "risen" due to the coronavirus crisis. Additionally, 37.5% said their desire to have a romantic partner was stronger.