DISTRACTIFY – June 23 – Facebook's introduction of dating is its latest attempt to turn the app into a one-stop shop for everything. Recently some users have gotten an update in their news feed that lists profiles os people who have "recently used dating." Facebook Dating was first rolled out almost two years ago. Facebook has also introduced a streaming service (which failed), and Instagram, which the company owns, introduced a feature designed to replicate the design of TikTok.
Month: June 2021
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“All Discrimination Comes From Ignorance”, Says Founder of Blued
TIME – June 25 – Last July, BlueCity debuted on Nasdaq with an $85M IPO as the world's most popular LGBTQ+ dating community. Although it has yet to turn a profit, losses have narrowed considerably since paid memberships, live streams and ads were introduced. "At the beginning, I just wanted to do something for myself and my gay friends," says Ma Baoli, the company's founder. In 2013, Blued began overseas expansion. It is already the market leader in many Asian countries and has grown rapidly in markets like Mexico and Brazil. Blued has 63M registered users worldwide.
Millions Turn to Livestreaming to Earn a Living During the Pandemic
SCMP – June 24 – Many people and businesses would not have survived the pandemic if it were not for the gig economy, says co-founder of live streaming service Uplive. Asia Innovations Group, the start-up behind Uplive and Lamour, is planning an IPO in New York in the second half of this year. The Beijing-based company nearly doubled its registered users to 312M at the end of 2020. User numbers topped 400M in June. Other products in the AIG portfolio include social dating app Lamour, fan site SupreFans, online payment service China International Communications Network and dating apps Wink and FancyU. AIG raised $140M at the start of 2021.
How Does It Feel to Be Dating Again?
NEW YORK TIMES – June 25 – Alessandra Conti, a founder of Matchmakers In The City, a matchmaking service based in Beverly Hills, recommends that her clients not spend too much time on video dates. She and others compare dating to a skill set, or more so a muscle, that has to be consistently exercised in order to maintain. Choosing active, rather than intimate settings, can ease some of the apprehension of dating and create "a more chill environment."
Tencent-backed Soulgate Halts U.S. IPO Plans
REUTERS – June 23 – Soulgate, the Chinese social networking app backed by Tencent Holdings, has halted plans for its IPO in the U.S. because it received other offers to raise capital. The Shanghai-based company, which launched its mobile app in Nov 2016, was looking to raise ~$198M. In March, the company had 9.1M daily active users on average.
Matrimony.com to Expect Better Profit Growth
TIMES NOW NEWS – June 24 – The stock of Matrimony.com has gained ~2.5x in the last one year. Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder and CEO of Matrimony.com said: "Covid has led to increased digital adoption in the Matrimony business and expects the momentum to continue. Growth has been broad-based across geographies in India and across Tier II and Tier III markets." Increase in marketing expenses had led to impact on profits, said Janakiraman. Profits grew 40% last year and he expects profits to grow at a much better pace than last year.
Tinder Offers 2 Free Therapy Sessions
EDEX LIVE – June 24 – Tinder has partnered with VisitHealth to provide members free access to emotional wellness content. Starting Thursday and through July, all Indian users of Tinder will have access to mental health resources including up to two free sessions with licensed therapists across eight languages, said Tinder India, adding that there will be "continued support at discounted rates for beyond the first two sessions" till December. These sessions can be over video, chat or call.
Singles Return to In-Person Dating
by Anne Marie Chakker
See full article at Wall Street Journal
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Tinder Is About to Look More Like TikTok and Snapchat
