FAST COMPANY – Aug 10 – Kathryn Kosmides's experience leaving an abusive relationship inspired her to create an easy way for people to find out more about who they're dating. She created the nonprofit background check platform Garbo, which allows individuals to access public records of violent crimes for a nominal fee. With just a first name and phone number, Garbo users can look up records for someone they've matched with on an online dating app. Following a seven-figure investment by Match Group in March, Garbo's technology will be piloted on Tinder later this year. Garbo doesn't disclose sensitive personal details like home addresses when users search for a record. The platform already filters out non-violent offenses like marijuana possession and minor traffic violations.
Month: August 2021
Match Beta Test Targets Dating App Complaints
TECH CRUNCH – Aug 10 – Today Match introduces features addressing user complaints like how much time it takes to find a relevant match and ghosting. An anti-ghosting feature will push users to either continue a conversation or unmatch the recipient instead of leaving them hanging.
"Matched by Us," is a new recommendation system that presents one, free match a week. Users see each other and don't wait for a "like" back to engage in a conversation. Match has been internally testing adding human curation to suggestions, an actual match-making service. "Right now, human curation is one area that we're really excited about and want to crack," CPO Dushyant Saraph said. The new features are rolling out to Match's U.S. userbase in beta, as the company kicks off a new brand campaign targeting adult daters.
Match Group have 15m paying customers across its brands, up from 13m YOY. Quarterly revenue was $708m, with net income of $141m. Match Group plans to add audio and video chat, including live video, to its dating brand portfolio. Match's dating app is among those that will benefit from Hyperconnect integrations as Match explores "building out live experiences."
by Sarah Perez
See full article at Tech Crunch
Mark Brooks: Putting the people back into personals. The future of dating apps is 'live'. Match experimented with matchmakers under CEO Jim Safka, bought a 20% stake in Chinese hybrid matchmaking service Zhenai in 2011, and flirted with Three Day Rule in 2014. eHarmony also experimented with a brand extension into live high-end matchmaking in 2013.
See the top news on Match Group
See the top news on Match.com
RealMe, a Simple Solution for Helping People Be Safe While Dating Online
YAHOO LIFE – Aug 9 – RealMe is a turnkey solution for dating platforms to add to their systems to help people be safer online. Here is an interview with RealMe CEO Jeffrey Tinsley.
Q: What is the biggest issue you see happening online right now in regards to security?
A: Phishing scams are the most common where scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. Unemployment benefit scams, employment scams, and social security scams were at an all-time high.
Q: What suggestions would you give to platforms to create a safer environment?
A: Adding an identity verification requirement, specifically with respect to age verification is key. Content moderation is extremely important.
Q: When it comes to dating apps, many have fake accounts, spam users or bots. Why is RealMe the solution in fixing this?
A: RealMe's integration empowers users with trustworthy identity verification and instant access to 275M US background profiles. We verify that consumers are in fact who they say they are and provide background information including criminal records, sex offender status and personal reviews.
Q: Which apps have started using your services?
A: We are proud to say that we recently announced a partnership with White Label Dating. We are live on Dig, Tabby, Mingle2, and Bristlr.
Q: With technology changing every day, what future trends do you predict will happen in terms of technology and online personal security?
A: Anonymity is coming to an end due to safety and security becoming the new standard requirement to protect users. It's the responsibility of marketplaces, dating apps, and other platforms, and it's good for business to keep their users protected and attract more through enhanced safety protocols.
Q: How can companies sign up with RealMe or at least begin taking steps to secure their platforms?
A: You can contact our VP of Business Development, Courtney Kovacevich.
Facebook Dating Adds 3 New Features
ADWEEK – Aug 9 – Facebook said use of Facebook Dating's Virtual Dates feature, which enables people to video chat with their matches, rose by ~50% since the end of 2020, largely fueled by the pandemic and people shifting to dating from a distance. The number of messages sent daily via Facebook Dating is up ~55% since August 2020, and the most popular time to message matches is Sunday at 7 p.m. The three new features that are being added to Facebook Dating are Audio Dates, Lucky Pick and Match Anywhere. Audio Dates enables people to start audio chats with their matches. Lucky Pick allows users to consider other compatible candidates who may be outside their typical preferences. And Match Anywhere gives people the option of adding up to two additional locations within their specified country where they wish to seek suggested matches. Facebook Dating was initially introduced at F8 2019 in May 2019, and it debuted in the U.S. in September of that year.
by David Cohen
See full article at AdWeek
Mark Brooks: I think video and audio are absolutely at the heart of dating via Internet dating apps. Both work in tandem to help dating apps become more personal. Pre-dates should be done online. They're safer, more fun, and ultimately produce a fuller experience with better outcomes IMHO. Lucky Pick resolves for preference myopia by helping people open up their mindsets from their staid ticklists.
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Tinder Is Testing Virtual Currency
GRATIS DATING TIPS – Aut 5 – In the latest letter to shareholders, Match Group says it is testing in-app virtual currency on Tinder. The company says the tests are "performing well." The virtual currency will be tested globally in the H2 of 2021.
by Michael Slender
See full article at Gratis Dating Tips
From Aisle to Anbe: a Vernacular Dating Story
NEW INDIAN EXPRESS – Aug 5 – Aisle, India's second most downloaded dating app, achieved a milestone on March 21, 2021, with the launch of its vernacular dating app Arike, exclusively for Malayalam-speaking users. Following its success, Aisle recently rolled out its second vernacular offering Anbe, catering to Tamil-speaking subscribers residing in and out of India. The app has special features designed specifically for the community, with reference to Tamil pop culture. Able Joseph, founder, Aisle, explains, "We're old-school at heart and hence the name Anbe. The word translates to 'dear' in Tamil. Our core philosophy is to bring a native feel to the whole dating experience so that it would be easier to strike meaningful conversations with like-minded individuals."
by Vaishali Vijaykumar
See full article at New Indian Express
See the top news on Aisle
See the top news on Anbe
See the top news on Arike
U.S. Firms Drum up Support for S. Korean Bill Designed to Curb App Store Operators
YONHAP – Aug 3 – A U.S.-based group of companies that has voiced opposition to commissions major app stores collect from developers expressed support Tuesday for legislative movement in South Korea to pass a bill that seeks to curb the so-called app store taxes. Last month, the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee decided to approve amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act, which seeks to ban app market operators from forcing certain payment systems on developers by unfairly using their position. The bill, which would be the first of its kind globally if voted into law, currently awaits further review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee before being handed off for a wider vote by the National Assembly. Mark Buse, Match Group's senior VP and a founding member of the Coalition for App Fairness, met ruling Democratic Party lawmakers at the National Assembly in support of the bill. The U.S.-based group consists of major tech companies, including hit video game "Fortnite" maker Epic Games, music streaming giant Spotify Technology SA and Match Group.
Dating App Hinge Donating $50K to Save Lesbian Bars
How Advances in Technology and Science Could Impact the Dating and Matchmaking Industry
Blockchain Technology
Companies such as Hicky and Viola have both implemented blockchain to increase transparency by requiring users to validate their identity via face and voice recognition, which is then fully encrypted and stored into the blockchain.
Artificial Intelligence
AI can help gather in-app user behavior data for machine learning algorithms to curate more relevant matches based on its users' core values, beliefs and personality traits. Coffee Meets Bagel, Hinge, Tinder and Badoo all now use AI .
Augmented Reality
AR can be described as a visual or audio overlay of digital life on real life, distinct from the purely digital landscape of virtual reality (VR).
DNA Matchmaking
DNA Romance is a dating app that matches partners based on the information hidden in their DNA to forecast romantic chemistry. Dr. Tim Sexton built the app on the basis that partners with opposite immune system genes (MHC genes) have much higher romantic chemistry.