SOFTONIC – Meta's LLaMA is an AI language model that was initially designed for AI research purposes, but was leaked online and is now being used by some people to generate profile bios and chat conversations on dating app Tinder. Computer engineer Alfredo Ortega made a bot available for users on his Discord server to interact with the AI, but the generated texts are of such simplicity that they may not be effective. The ethical implications of using AI to deceive someone in a dating context are also called into question.
Month: March 2023
Elect Club Is a UK-Based Introduction Agency
TO THE LANE AND BACK – Elect Club is a UK-based introduction agency that invites single professionals to attend exclusive events to get to know potential dates. The company's CEO, Genevieve Zawada, began hosting dinner parties over 20 years ago and saw a need for more discriminating dating environments to help singles connect. In 2014, she purchased Elect Club, a members-only introduction agency inside the UK, to complement the expanding membership base of her Secret Dinner Club. In addition to hosting singles events, Elect Club provides personalized matchmaking services and coaching to help singles improve their dating skills.
Gen Z Is Rejecting “Big Astrology” and Zodiac Sign Compatibility
HYPEBAE – According to a recent survey conducted by lesbian dating app HER, Gen Z is not as obsessed with astrology as older generations may think. While people still use astrology to determine compatibility, it's no longer the only factor. Gen Z women are also no longer ditching potential lovers based on their zodiac sign. Overall, Gen Z is skeptical of "Big Astrology" but recognizes the usefulness of astrological tools.
Grindr Will Help Distribute Free at-home HIV Tests
The Pear Ring: the Dubious Solution to Dating App Fatigue?
GLAMOUR MAGAZINE – The Pear Ring, a small blue-light ring, is being marketed as an alternative to dating apps that helps people see who is single around them, encouraging IRL connections. The ring costs £19.99 and comes with a unique membership number, invitations to PearFest and access to free events in their city. The company behind the ring claims to have sold ~83% of their original stock, suggesting there is demand for alternatives to dating apps. While some social media users are excited by the concept, others have raised concerns about unintended or intended harassment and whether colour-blind people will be excluded from the social experiment.
University of Illinois Researcher Studies Dating App Racism
ILLINOIS PUBLIC MEDIA – Research from the University of Illinois has found that racist objectification on gay dating apps is detrimental to the mental health of young black men who use them. Assistant Professor of Social Work Ryan Wade coined the term "Racialized Sexual Discrimination" (RSD) to describe the type of behavior he identified on dating apps. Wade's research found that white physical objectification had the biggest impact on mental health. This type of RSD involves assumptions about men's bodies and sexual preferences based on stereotypes about different racial and ethnic groups. Wade suggested intervening to prevent RSD from occurring on dating apps or creating new apps with an "anti-racist framework built-in."
by Owen Henderson
See full article at Illinois Public Media
Bumble Launches New Speed Dating Feature
DNA INDIA – Speed Dating is part of a bundle of new features that also includes Recommend to a Friend, which allows the Bumble community to play cupid and help find their friends new connections. Speed Dating allows users to go in 'blind' and prioritise personality over physical attraction. It requires people to start conversations without seeing any pictures of the other person, with profile photos hidden for the first three minutes of messaging. Once the time is up, each person will be asked if they would like to continue the conversation and if both people choose to match, their chat will live in their Date Mode queue and their profile will be available to view following the event. Speed Dating pairings are based on location, age and gender preferences.
Happn at New Street Research – Online Dating Summit
OPW – Mark Brooks interviewed Karima Ben Abdelmalek, the CEO of Happn at the Online Dating Summit that took place last week in New York. They discussed the unique features of Happn, its target market, the potential for growth in the industry, challenges, and the use of AI in the app. They also talked about the possibility of incorporating VR or augmented reality into Happn in the future. Karima also presented the results of their survey (Happn's Online Trends) conducted in Brazil, Nordic countries, and France, which revealed what users expect from Happn in the future. The survey found that users want to retain control of their love lives and have a healthy experience that focuses on communication, prevention, information, and education.
Mark: What is the "Je ne sais quoi" of Happn?
Karima: Happn is a dating app that relies on Geo-location to connect people who have crossed paths in real life. The app focuses on finding matches who frequent the same places or areas. Happn's Je ne sais quoi is its ability to connect people with their surroundings and facilitate meaningful in-person interactions.
Mark: Marc Simoncini from Meetic once said that 22 miles is the magic number. Grindr is also focused on location. But let's distinguish between location and vicinity. Grindr's location-based approach is really about connecting individuals in the same general area.
Karima: Meeting someone nearby is not the only aspect we desire. We also want to connect with someone who frequents the same places as us. This shared location serves as a perfect conversation starter.
Mark: What is your target market?
Karima: We are a global company with a strong presence in Western Europe, Latin America, and emerging countries like India. We have ~135M users globally, with 10M in France, 20M in Brazil, and 33M in India.
Mark: Can we discuss the potential for growth in our industry?
Karima: Our industry revolves around human and social behavior, which has boundless potential for growth. With new generations, gender inclusivity, and diverse cultures entering the scene, the sky's the limit for us.
Mark: What could hold us back?
Karima: Our biggest challenge is to combat online dating fatigue and motivate users to transition from online to in-person meetings. Additionally, we need to revisit our business model and introduce more value-added services.
Mark: Can you tell us about how Happn is currently using AI and any plans for the future?
Karima: We are using AI for safety purposes. It helps us identify scammers and bots. We've developed an algorithm that continuously evolves to keep up with the latest tactics used by scammers and bots. We're also exploring the use of picture analysis through AI to uncover shared interests among users. By analyzing the backgrounds in profile pictures, we can gain insight into people's personalities and preferences.
Mark: Can you share your thoughts on how Happn would look like with VR in the next five years?
Karima: While VR is an exciting technology, it doesn't align with our core vision of facilitating real-life meetings between people. Our current priorities are focused on ensuring the safety of our users and keeping our app innovative. However, we do see potential in using augmented reality to gamify the dating experience and provide virtual dates for people to connect before meeting in person. It would be a great ice-breaker.
Creative Minds: Bumble’s Naomi Walkland
LITTLE BLACK BOOK – Naomi Walkland, the VP EMEA marketing at Bumble, discusses what makes a "creative mind" and how to inspire creativity in others. She believes that curiosity is the key to creativity and that creativity can take many different forms. Naomi thinks creativity can be developed and nurtured over time, and she finds time for creativity even as a new mother. The modern world is changing what creativity looks like, and technology like GENIE can democratize opportunities for creatives. Naomi cites the Nike and Tiffany partnership as an example of how two completely different brands can come together and create something new and unique.
A VC’s Perspective on Investing in Social Discovery Startups
FORBES – Bill Alena, from Social Discovery Group, is a revenue operations and corporate venture capital (CVC) executive with more than 20 years of experience in digital media and online dating. The dating component of the social discovery market alone is estimated to reach $10B by 2028. And with such potential for growth, venture capitalists continue to take an interest in social discovery platforms. But what do VCs look for when considering social discovery investments? Here are seven things Bill Alena's team looks for:
- A Proven Track Record
- A Solid Business Plan And Vision
- A Long-Term Strategy
- Convincing Engagement Metrics
- A Clear Picture Of The Market Opportunity
- Differentiation From The Competition
- Proof Of Execution