THE GUARDIAN – Dating apps must cooperate to share information about "bad actors" using their services to abuse and harass other users, Australia's eSafety Commissioner said, as new data shows three-quarters of Australian adults reported at least one negative online experience in the last year. Julie Inman Grant said her agency may soon issue legal notices to online dating services, compelling them to report on how they are responding to violence and threats.
Month: February 2023
Love You on Tinder. On Hinge, Not So Much.
NEW YORK TIMES – With many dating apps available to suit virtually any preference, each with its own unofficial norms and expectations, it's no surprise that users modulate their personalities from one dating app to the next. Whereas an app like Hinge incentivizes leading with details that suggest users are serious about finding a relationship, an app like Feeld welcomes those who put their kinkiest foot forward. Users adjust accordingly. David Coursi, a 29-year-old copy editor at an advertising agency, said that he almost had a missed connection with one woman he first matched with on Tinder – until she found him to be more appealing on Hinge.
by Gina Cherelus
See full article at New York Times
See the top news on Tinder
See the top news on Hinge
See the top news on Feeld
Steven Macecevic, CEO of Datefit, Spoke About Influencer Marketing at LTR 18
LTR – We run LTR events a few weeks after each event, so more people can enjoy and learn from them. LTR stands for Love, Tech, Relationships and is where IDEA members learn, share and connect online. See www.IDEA.gp.
Steven is a lifetime entrepreneur who’s spent the past 8 years developing and operating online dating communities, including DateFit. With a strong passion for fitness and healthy living, Steven built a community for singles that provide them a place to find others with the same passions and zest for life. Datefit launched in Jan 2019. Steven spoke about his experience with influencer marketing – finding the right influencers, negotiating with them and managing them, and creating effective content.
The December LTR was kindly sponsored by technology providers Livebox by The Meet Group, RealGifts, Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com
Kindred Acquihires Dating App Mango, Appoints Founder as CTO
BUSINESSWIRE – Kindred, a members-only home-swapping network, acquihired dating app Mango and its founder, Bryan Li. Li has joined Kindred as Chief Technology Officer. Founded in 2021, Mango built AI-powered matchmaking to connect users efficiently and effectively. The acquisition is poised to expand Kindred's matching capabilities for home swaps with the app's proprietary technology and Li's expertise.
See full article at Businesswire
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
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Match Group to Lay off 8% of Its Staff as Growth Falters
REUTERS – Match Group joined a growing list of U.S. companies that are cutting jobs to rein in costs after it announced plans to lay off ~8% of its workforce, or ~200 employees, as spending on its dating apps slows. The job cuts were mainly in areas such as recruiting. The layoffs come as other tech firms, from Microsoft Corp to Amazon, shed tens of thousands of jobs to brace for a possible recession.
by Vansh Agarwal & Shreyaa Narayanan
See full article at Reuters
Key Findings About Online Dating in the U.S.
PEW RESEARCH – A new report from Pew Research Center explores the upsides and downsides of online dating by highlighting Americans' experiences and views. Here are 12 key takeaways.
- 3-in-10 U.S. adults have used a dating site or app.
- Online dating is more common among younger adults.
- LGB adults are more likely than their straight counterparts to say they have ever used a dating app (51% vs. 28%).
- Men are somewhat more likely than women to have tried online dating (34% vs. 27%).
- Adults who have never been married are much more likely than married adults to report having used online dating sites or apps (52% vs. 16%).
- There are no significant differences in the shares of adults who report ever using an online dating platform by race or ethnicity.
- Tinder tops the list of dating apps the survey studied and is particularly popular among adults under 30.
- Online dating users are somewhat divided over whether their experiences on these platforms have been positive or negative.
- 35% say they have ever paid to use one of these platforms – including for extra features – but this varies by income, age and gender.
- Those who have ever paid to use dating sites or apps report more positive experiences than those who have never paid.
- Women who have used online dating platforms in the past year are more likely to feel overwhelmed by the number of messages they get, while men are more likely to feel insecure about a lack of messages.
- 42% say online dating has made searching for a long-term partner easier.
by Emily A. Vogels & Colleen McClain
See full article at Pew Research
‘Keep Lex Filthy’: Users React to Queer Dating App’s New Direction
TECH CRUNCH – Lex, the hookup and social app that launched in 2019 with a nod to lesbian personal ads from the '80s, wants to change the look and direction. Come users fear that Lex will scrub away its beloved raunchy essence. The text-based service grew over the past few years into a queer community – a place for women, trans, genderqueer and nonbinary people to announce meetups, find concert tickets, share poetry, crack in-jokes or simply cruise. Lex publicized its redesign on January 26, emphasizing its role in helping people find "LGBTQ+ friends & queer community." A press release laid out the app's evolution "from a dating app to a vibrant social platform," while an Instagram post from the company highlighted a shift from personal ads toward group chats and meetups.