PRESS ASSOCIATION – June 9 – UK adults spent more time online than other large European countries such as France and Germany during the pandemic, according to Ofcom research. They 217 minutes online each day in 2020. More than an hour longer than in Germany and France and 30 minutes more than Spain. Tinder was the most popular dating app among young online UK adults. 11% of 18-24 year-olds used Tinder in Sep 2020. Plenty of Fish was most popular among the 45-54 age group. However lockdown saw an increase in romance scams, with money lost to fraudsters increasing 12% to £18.5 million.
Month: June 2021
1/3 Would Rather Meet Partner Through Gaming Than Dating App
Apple Says Grindr, Scruff Not Targets of App Store Guideline Change
APPLE INSIDER – June 9 – Apple clarified that a recent change to its App Store guidelines is only targeting illicit apps that use dating as a cover and won't result in the ban of legitimate apps like Grindr or Scruff. Apple's Monday update to App Store Review Guidelines clarifies some existing policies and adds new requirements for apps. One of those changes, guideline 1.1.4, bans "hookup" apps that include pornography or are used to facilitate prostitution.
Hinge & Uber Team up to Help Single Dog-owners
BODY & SOUL – June 9 – Beginning today until June 21, the first 5k matched Hinge couples in Australian cities where Uber Pet is available will be eligible for a 50% 'Uber Pet' discount code. 69% of Aussie Hinge users say they're more drawn to dog owners. It's considered a priority that your fluffy mate and your future mate get along. "Nobody ever wants to be in a position to choose between a partner and a pet so exploring how a date interacts and feels about your furry housemate early on is valuable," says Dr. Kate Adams, Vet and Hinge puppy chemistry expert. 61% of Aussie Hinge users think someone's choice in pets says a lot about their personality.
by Sophie Goulopoulos
See full article at Body & Soul
Momo Q1 Financial Results
MOMO – June 9 – Q1 2021 net revenues decreased by 3.4% YOY to RMB3,470.6M ($529.7M). Net income attributable to Momo decreased to RMB461.7M ($70.5M) from RMB538.9M in the same period of 2020. Monthly Active Users on Momo app were 115.3M in March 2021, compared to 108M in March 2020. Total paying users of our live video service and value-added service, including 3.5 million paying users of Tantan, were 12.6M for the Q1 of 2021, compared to 12.8M for the Q1 of 2020, which included 4.2M paying users of Tantan.
Grindr Expands LGBTQ Health Care Access for Employees
AXIOS – June 9 – Grindr is adding a new benefit for its LGBTQ+ employees through the concierge service Included Health. More than 1 in 10 LGBTQ+ Americans polled by American Progress last summer said they were mistreated by a doctor or health care provider. Many said they stopped seeking treatment at all after facing discrimination. Included Health, founded in 2019, was acquired by Grand Rounds Health and Doctor On Demand in May, and is one of a handful of startups trying to address health care barriers experienced by transgender people.
POF Survey: Singles Say Goodbye to One-Night Stands
PR NEWSWIRE – June 9 – According to a PlentyofFish study, 64% of singles said being virtually intimate during the pandemic changed what they consider intimacy to be. 6 in 10 (57%) respondents now place higher value on other types of intimacy, like emotional or intellectual intimacy, while 45% find less value in physical connection. Over half of singles (51%) think one-night stands will become a thing of the past once the pandemic comes to an end. Men are more likely to agree with this sentiment than women (61% vs. 45%, respectively) and Millennials are 1/3 more likely (57%) than Gen Z (39%) to believe that one-night stands are a pre-COVID-19 trend.
Mila: an Intelligent Way to Date
PR NEWSWIRE – June 8 – Mila, a free zillennial dating app is now live on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store with a pre-launch waitlist of ~3K members. Instead of swiping through thousands of profiles, Mila provides an AI-based detailed compatibility prediction so members can find genuine matches and focus on off-screen connections.
Online Daters Requesting Greater Protection – RealMe Survey
PR NEWSWIRE – June 8 – In response to the need for a safer, more secure, and transparent online dating standard, RealMe™ is revealing key findings from a recent survey conducted with GDI. The survey explores safety and security trends that have impacted online dating over the past year and how those at the industry forefront need to address growing concerns. 1k members of the dating industry were surveyed about current safety practices, 2021 priorities, and their desire for tools and protocols. Notable highlights included:
- The #1 priority for dating app insiders is user safety and security
- Their largest challenges are associated with safety: video, live-streaming, female-user safety, scaling safety, and AI moderation
- Background verification checks are the 2nd most desired security enhancement
- 50%+ of dating app insiders thought they could be doing more to protect users
- 63% believe risks are increasing
See survey highlights & white paper. Hear survey results discussion. Get more info on RealMe.
Bhad Bhabie and Lil Yachty Invest $1M in Jewish Dating App
TIMES OF ISRAEL – June 7 – Rappers take a stake in 'Lox Club,' a Jewish dating app for people 'with ridiculously high standards'. The two rappers have made the $1M investment in partnership with Adam Kluger, an agent for musical artists. Kluger was Bhad Bhabie's manager and partners with Lil Yachty on investments. The dating app has an application process and a membership fee, and members work with a matchmaker.
by Ben Sales
See full article at Times of Israel
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com