NPR – Aug 3 – Grindr is supposed to be for men seeking men. But many underage boys are using it to hook up with adults, and that can put them at risk of exploitation and trafficking. A 2018 Northwestern University study found more than half of sexually active gay and bisexual adolescent boys found sexual partners on Grindr and other apps. Grindr was by far the most popular.
Month: August 2021
Q&A With Michelle Begy, Managing Director and Founder at Ignite Dating
TECHROUND.CO.UK – Aug 3 – Ignite Dating is an elite matchmaking and introductions agency. Specializing in hand-selected introductions, its matchmaking service combines a mix of Myers Briggs personality profiling, experienced matchmakers, intuition, and an extensive private network.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for the company?
A: After working with one of the UK's largest introduction agencies, I realised that the dating world was ripe for a different way of doing business. I launched Ignite Dating in January 2020.
Q: How has the company evolved during the pandemic?
A: Rather than give up at the first hurdle we took a "push harder, work longer and build faster" approach. We increased our online marketing spend by 200%. This determination to stay positive and swim against the tide allowed us to come out of lockdown stronger and in a better position than ever. Since restrictions started to ease, we have seen a 350% growth in the number of people taking up our matchmaking services.
Q: What can we hope to see from Ignite Dating in the future?
A: Following a year of exponential growth, we now have two offices and have rolled our franchise model out to 6 territories across the UK. We are well underway to expand both domestically and internationally over the course of the next 18 months.
OkCupid Launches Campaign Embracing Inclusivity
by Gabby Fernie
See full article at Mobile Marketing Magazine
40% of People Have Never Used Dating Apps out of Fear of Scammers
WEBWIRE – Aug 2 – According to a Kaspersky survey, 40% of respondents in the U.S. said they are afraid to use dating apps, due to fear of being deceived by fraudsters. 34% said they generally do not trust people in dating apps. 22% of respondents in the U.S. were targeted by cybercriminals (compared to 15% globally). Lack of privacy is also a serious issue for dating apps. The full report is available here.
Apple Removes Anti-vaxx Dating App Unjected From the App Store
BUSINESS INSIDER – Aug 2 – Apple on Saturday removed Unjected, a dating app for the unvaccinated, from its App Store. Apple told the app it "inappropriately refers to the COVID-19 pandemic in its concept or theme." Unjected said on Instagram that the app offered medical autonomy and freedom of choice. The app violated Apple's policies for COVID-19 content, said an Apple spokesperson.
by Kevin Shalvey & Francis Agustin
See full article at Business Insider
Niche Dating Apps Are the Next Big Thing
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Aug 2 – The options range from apps for those committed to sobriety (Loosid) and people on the autism spectrum (Hiki), to matchmakers for fitness buffs (TeamUp), dog lovers (Dig), gamers (Kippo), vegetarians (Veggly) and amateur astrologists (Stars Align, NUiT and the Pattern). "S'More" helps users pair up by shifting the focus from physical appearances to mutual goals and interests. When matches first connect, they see only blurred versions of each other's profile photos, along with bios, hobbies and answers to prompts like "What are your top 3 qualities in a match?" As they exchange messages, their photos gradually un-blur. Christian Mingle was launched in 2001, while Grindr made its debut in 2009 and Tastebuds, which matches people based on their taste in music, showed up in 2010.
10 oddly specific, real dating sites
- Bristlr: For bearded men and women who love beards
- Zombie Passions: For those hung up on the "undead"
- Sea Captain Date: For seafarers seeking their first mates
- Clown Dating: "Everyone loves a clown"
- Mullet Passions: For anyone who likes a good party in the back
- Paranormal Dating: For those with metaphysical fixations
- Equestrian Cupid: Because horse gals and lads deserve love, too
- Sizzlr: For lovers of all things bacon
- Twindog: To help your furry friend find a canine best friend
- Ship: If you want your friends to do your swiping for you
OkCupid’s Dating Data Center
OKCUPID – Aug 2 – Every month OKCupid will be sharing the latest matching questions and responses. And so far, OKCupid matching questions have been answered 365M times this year. Its newest questions cover everything from the upcoming election in Germany to the biggest dating deal breakers in India to thoughts on steamy sex in Israel to how British singles prefer their tea.
Professor Pepper Schwartz to Speak at LTR Edition 10 on Wed 4th Aug
OPW – Aug 2 –
TOPIC: The Science of Matching
Acclaimed author, researcher, and TV personality, Pepper Schwartz has devoted her life to the fields of intimacy & sexuality. She created the compatibility profiling system for two dating companies in the past.
Professor Schwartz did her PhD at Yale and has been at University of Washington for 49 years! Pepper was Love and Relationship Ambassador for AARP for 11 years.
See her books, Finding Your Perfect Match, Prime, The Normal Bar, Dating After 50 for Dummies, and more.
Pepper lectures internationally on intimate relationships, sexuality, and women's wellbeing and is relationship expert on "Married At First Sight" on A&E Network.
LTR Edition 10 is on Wed 4th August starting 11:30am EST (New York). 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 10 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 Meet Group, and Courtland Brooks