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Month: December 2021
Tinder Is Partnering With Spotify for a New ‘Music Mode’ Feature
TECH CRUNCH – Users will hear a 30-second looped preview of a potential matches' chosen song while checking out their profile. Users who link their Spotify accounts and add a chosen song, called an "Anthem," to their Tinder profiles will be able to enter Music Mode. It's worth noting that Tinder and Spotify first partnered in 2016 to launch the Anthem feature, which allows users to add music to their dating profiles. This latest integration is a new way for users to discover their potential matches' favorite songs. Music Mode will be rolling out to Tinder users globally, in all markets where Spotify is available, in the coming weeks.
Gay Apps Join Forces to Fight Online Insults
CALIFORNIAHEALTHLINE – Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC), an organization in the San Francisco Bay Area focused on HIV and STD prevention, has launched an effort to boost niceness on gay apps. Through surveys and focus groups, BHOC asked ~5K users of nine gay apps how the sites could support better online behavior related to race, appearance, HIV status, age, disability, gender identity and other factors. It also sought advice on technical improvements the apps could make, such as offering users greater flexibility in conducting searches for contacts. "We've had a non-bullying policy since day one," said David Lesage, marketing and social media director for Adam4Adam.
by David Tuller
See full article at California Healthline
Q&A With Jeffrey Tinsley From RealMe
FHM – Before the pandemic began, 30% of all adults have used dating sites or apps before. Pew Research Center found that 59% of people thought online dating was a good way to meet people. So, how safe is it, and what are dating apps doing to make it safer? FHM spoke with Jeffrey Tinsley, the developer behind the RealMe software that countless dating apps have been putting into action on their platforms that gives users verification and background checks.
Q: How safe is online dating right now?
A: The risk of scams and fraud is increasing. According to Psychology Today, 84% of online daters falsify some portion of their profiles, and~10% are entirely fake. NPR recently reported that Americans lost $143M in romance scams. So a lot more needs to be done to keep people dating online safe.
Q: What things should people look for while swiping on apps that may indicate the other profile is fake, a bot or someone who has a criminal background?
A: One of the first signs a profile might be fake is that it is barely filled out and only has one or two photos. And if they send you links to check them out on another site, delete them. If the dating app partners with RealMe, they'll see the RealMe icon which tells them the truth about the person they're interested in.
Q: What future trends in dating security do you foresee happening?
A: I think there is going to be a safety shakeout. Users will start to walk away from the apps that don't take member safety seriously. One of our recent surveys showed that 9 in 10 online daters wish they could obtain more information about the person they were talking to and would be more likely to meet up with them if their profile was "verified".
Q: Which apps are "doing it right"?
A: WhiteLabelDating, a network of ~4000 dating apps. They have integrated RealMe into all of them. Two dating apps for animal lovers, Dig for dog people, and Tabby for cat people, have also partnered with RealMe. We are in talks with other dating apps.
Tinder Ex-CEO Settles Defamation Suit Over Sexual Assault
BLOOMBERG LAW – Gregory Blatt, Tinder's former CEO, agreed to settle his defamation suit against two former executives who accused him of sexual assault, as part of a $441M deal in a related case over Match Group's valuation of Tinder. Gregory Blatt alleged that Tinder co-founder Sean Rad and former communications director Rosette Pambakian conspired to falsely accuse him of sexual assault in order to discredit him in the stock-valuation suit.
Users Spent $133B With Apps in 2021
9TO5MAC – New Sensor Tower research revealed that users spent $133B on apps in 2021, up 20% YOY. Apple's App Store continues to generate more revenue than Google Play. Apple's App Store alone accounted for $85.1B of this market, with YOY growth of 17.7%. While Android dominates the market share, users spent less. During the year, Google Play registered $47.9B in revenue. TikTok is the top revenue app of the year as the video platform reached $3B in revenue in June. Other apps that drove the mobile app market in 2021 were YouTube, Tinder, and Disney+.
Zoosk Launches Great Dates, a Virtual Dating Feature
PR NEWSWIRE – Inspired by the post-pandemic shift toward video dating, Zoosk is launching a virtual dating feature, called Zoosk Great Dates. Zoosk Great Dates lets singles and their dates access fun virtual dates in exciting global destinations, with the first batch of interactive dates set in Greece, Italy and Japan.
Bumble Rolls out Online Shop and Product Line Featuring $200 Hoodie
THE DRUM – Bumble has launched its online shop, which features everything from branded playing cards and keychains emblazoned with pronouns to a $200 hoodie created by California-based apparel brand Aviator Nation. The move represents the app's first foray into retail and commerce.
CEO of TrulyMadly: “Global Apps Are Not Building Apps for Real India”
LIVEMINT – Snehil Khanor, CEO and co-founder of TrulyMadly, who drives the startup's marketing function, explains why his platform is getting traction in smaller towns. He says the pandemic did not impact the business of serious dating apps. In fact, it further fuelled the need for having a serious, long-term partner because you were confined to your home. Women are the drivers of offline meetings. TrulyMadly targets singles 26+ . Only those people who are looking for something serious get matches. The app blocks anybody who is not a serious seeker. "International players are not building an app for real India", he says. "They are just pushing the same product that they have built for the world, especially, for the West. It is working for tier-I, but it will never work for tier-II and tier-III towns."
Muzmatch Celebrates 5M Members
YOUTUBE – 5M single Muslims all over the world are on Muzmatch searching for love. To celebrate, Muzmatch is giving $5K to one lucky couple that met on Muzmatch, to spend on either their engagement, wedding or honeymoon.