Month: August 2023

Men Are Still Suing Bumble for ‘Discrimination’

Posted on August 25, 2023

Bumble logoTHE DEEP DIVE – Bumble is being sued (again) for discrimination. The case, brought by Zimmerman Reed, alleges that Bumble's policy of requiring only women to make the first move on the app discriminates against men, transgender men, or nonbinary people. The law firm claims that the app is in violation of California's Civil Rights Act, which prohibits businesses from arbitrarily treating people differently based on their sex, gender, or sexual orientation. This isn't the first time that Bumble has been accused of discrimination. In 2022, the company settled a California-based discrimination lawsuit for $3M, without admitting any wrongdoing.

by JP Alegre
See full article at The Deep Dive

See the top news on Bumble

Shaadi.com Opens Pune Office

Posted on August 25, 2023

Shaadi logoCITY AIR NEWS – India's top matchmaking platform, Shaadi.com, launched a new 5,000 sq. ft. office in Pune's Meridian Plaza in August 2023. Housing a 70-member sales team, the expansion is part of the company's nationwide growth, with recent openings in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The move anticipates a 30% workforce increase by year-end.

See full article at City Air News

See the top news on Shaadi

AI’s Growing Role in Online Dating

Posted on August 25, 2023

AI in online datingINTELLIGENCER – Online dating fatigue is pushing platforms like Match Group, which operates Tinder and OkCupid, to integrate AI for a better user experience. Match Group aims to use AI for photo selection and matchmaking insights. However, AI tools like ChatGPT are already used by some users to enhance their profiles. As AI becomes more prevalent, concerns about authenticity and an optimization "arms race" arise. The future of AI-driven dating remains to be seen.

by John Herrman
See full article at Intelligencer

See the top news on Match Group

Announcing LTR Edition 26 With Dmitry Volkov (CEO & Founder, Social Discovery Group) and Christof Wittig (CEO & Founder, Hornet)

Posted on August 25, 2023

LTR OPW – Edition 26 of the LTR (Love, Tech, Relationships) online experience will be on Wed, Sep 6th at 1PM EST (New York time). In this edition, we will hear from Dmitry Volkov, CEO & Founder of Social Discovery Group, who will be interviewed by Mark Brooks. Then Christof Wittig, CEO & Founder of Hornet, will speak about "How Metrics Can Lead Us to Make Wrong Decisions". 

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 26 speakers and invite page here.

Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com to RSVP.

This LTR is kindly sponsored by technology providers Livebox by The Meet Group, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

Chispa’s Study on Latine College Students: Dating Tech, Gun Perspectives, 2024 Election & Mental Health

Posted on August 24, 2023

Chispa logoPR NEWSWIRE – Chispa, Match Group's dating app for Latin singles, in collaboration with Dr. Jake Beniflah of The Center for Multicultural Science, unveiled its 2nd annual 'Latine in College' study. The research provides a deep dive into the behaviors, attitudes, and cultural influences affecting Latine college students.

Notable insights include:

  • AI and Virtual Reality: While 73% have not used AI for dating, 46% believe AI can generate date ideas. 79% feel that VR can provide fun environments.
  • Guns: 80% don't find it a deal breaker if a partner owns a gun, and 56% support the 2nd Amendment. However, 88% endorse background checks.
  • Politics: 40% fear backlash against racial and ethnic minorities due to the 2024 elections.
  • Mental Health: 64% believe mental health affects relationship joy.

See full article at PR Newswire

See the top news on Chispa

Dating.com Survey: Most People No Longer Need Family & Friends’ Approval for Their Relationships

Posted on August 24, 2023

Dating.comPR NEWSWIRE – A recent survey conducted by Dating.com, which is a part of the Dating Group, revealed that the majority of people no longer find it essential to secure the approval of their friends and family regarding their choice of a significant other. Interestingly, 57% of the participants said they would terminate a friendship if their friend did not approve of their romantic partner. The survey further showed that 71% of individuals felt that the opinions of their friends had little influence on their romantic choices, while 54% felt that any disapproval they encountered was often rooted in jealousy. Men are far less concerned with getting approval than women are. 92% of respondents noted that if they were to seek relationship approval from anyone, it would be from their mom.

See full article at PR Newswire

See the top news on Dating.com

Match Group Bolsters Dating Apps With AI, Appoints Former Zynga Exec

Posted on August 23, 2023

Match GroupTECH CRUNCH – Match Group, responsible for apps like Tinder and OkCupid, is boosting its AI efforts. They've hired former Zynga executive, Mark Kantor, to spearhead innovations. Kantor's team, named ASL (Art x Science Lab), will delve into generative AI to improve user experience. Initiatives include an AI-driven photo selector for Tinder and the potential for AI-generated dating bios.

by Amanda Silberling
See full article at Tech Crunch

See the top news on Match Group

Shadowbanning: the Hidden Tactics of Online Dating

Posted on August 22, 2023

HingeGIZMODO – A lot of online daters think Hinge and other dating apps are keeping them from seeing or matching with the most appealing singles. Shadowbanning is a phenomenon where a tech platform hides users' accounts from others. Social media is full of people across the gender spectrum describing dating app shadowbans, sometimes offering tips and techniques to escape the algorithm. A Hinge spokesperson said Hinge sometimes handles bad actors by preventing other users from searching for them, seeing them in the feed of potential matches, or receiving their messages. Rule breakers often make new accounts after an outright ban, so the subtle yet frustrating shadowban can be a better way to curb misbehavior. "We do not withhold possible matches from users," the Hinge spokesperson said. "We want our users to match with the people they're compatible with and delete our app."

by Thomas Germain
See full article at Gizmondo

See the top news on Hinge

Sugarbook CEO’s Arrest Fuels Business Growth

Posted on August 22, 2023

Sugarbook logoYAHOO FINANCE – Darren Chan, the Malaysian founder of the online dating platform Sugarbook, was arrested in 2021 following a controversial post on the site. After spending 10 days in jail, he emerged more determined to grow his business. Despite the controversy, Sugarbook said it has 4M members, predominantly from Malaysia, the US, and Singapore. The platform is also expanding into new markets such as Taiwan and has introduced new features such as live-streaming. While he was unwilling to reveal the company's earnings and other financials, Chan said that revenue has risen by 60% year-to-date, compared to the same time period last year. Sugarbook has also paid out $1.7M to live streamers since the feature was launched last year.

by Timothy Kang
See full article at Yahoo Finance

See the top news on Sugarbook

Bharat Matrimony Promotes ‘Interest Matching’ in New ‘Be Choosy 2.0’ Campaign

Posted on August 22, 2023

FINANCIAL EXPRESS – Bharat Matrimony's latest ad campaign, "Be Choosy 2.0", emphasizes the importance of shared interests in relationships by highlighting its new 'Interest Matching' feature. The campaign, conceived by Wondrlab, portrays individuals with similar interests who may never cross paths without the platform's assistance.

See full article at Financial Express

See the top news on BharatMatrimony