Month: March 2024
Transport for London Bans Muzz.com’s Latest Tube Ads
Beyond the Swipes: Declining Marriage Aspirations and the Future of Paktor – Alex Tam
LTR – Alex Tam, CEO of Paktor Group, which was founded in 2013, offers online dating apps and offline matchmaking services primarily in Asia. Tam explained the trend of decreasing intentions to marry among single people, citing financial problems and a decreasing desire to have children. To address this, Paktor is diversifying its services, integrating online and offline experiences, expanding into new markets, embracing inclusivity (including LGBT matchmaking), and expanding their services beyond just facilitating first dates. They are also exploring gifting initiatives to enhance user experience. Despite declining marriage rates, Paktor aims to make dating easier, more integrated, inclusive, and fun for singles, with a focus on helping them find potential partners, whatever the outcome of the marriage.
The February LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com
The Cost of Dating in 2024 Is Stressing People out, Survey Finds
FOX5 – In 2024, a survey by Self Financial revealed that ~69% of American adults are uneasy about the cost of dating, with 68% anxious about managing expenses for a date. This aligns with a 2022 Lending Tree survey where one in five Americans avoided dating due to rising costs. Despite financial concerns, two-thirds of respondents believe spending more on a date increases its success. On average, men spend $67.87, while women spend $56.61 per date, with dinner being the preferred choice. A 2020 Lending Tree survey showed that Gen Z spends $72, Millennials $83, Gen X $82, and Baby Boomers $58 on a first date.
Friend Finder Networks – Founder Andrew Conru Sues CEO Jonathan Buckheit
OPW – A legal battle is unfolding between Andrew Conru, the founder of Friend Finder Networks (FFN), and his long-time friend and subsequent CEO of FFN, Jonathan Buckheit, over the ownership of the company. In 2013, Conru returned as CEO to rescue FFN from bankruptcy and a stagnation in innovation that occurred under Penthouse's ownership. By 2015, he had passed the CEO baton to Buckheit. However (according to Conru's complaint) FFN continued to struggle. Conru brokered an agreement to take back FFN by acquiring (according to Conru's complaint) a majority of its senior debt and equity in 2021. Foreseeing his limited availability due to philanthropic efforts, Conru entered into a complicated Purchase Agreement with Buckheit, including a Call Option Agreement (COA). The COA allowed Conru to purchase the remaining unvested shares at a set price should he decide to do so by exercising a "Call Right."
(According to Conru's complaint) Conru initiated the "New Community," aiming to create a "Facebook for Adults" integrated within FFN. Conru attempted to exercise his Call Right from the COA with a $1K check in 2023, Buckheit returned the check, claiming the option wasn't exercised in a reasonable timeframe.
The dispute escalated to a lawsuit filed by Conru against Buckheit in Aug 2023 in the Northern District of California, seeking to regain control of FFN. Buckheit's motion to dismiss the lawsuit was denied by Judge Freeman in Mar 2024, moving the case to Alternative Dispute Resolution scheduled for Apr 24, 2024.
by Debbi R - A long-time FFN User
Match Group Adds Two Board Members, Skirmishes With EU, Disputes Dark Nudging
TECH TIMES – Match Group has appointed two new board members: Instacart's CMO, Laura Jones, and Zillow Group former co-founder/CEO, Spencer Rascoff, will join the board immediately. Jones has expertise from Uber and Google, while Rascoff was Zillow's CEO for a decade.
Meanwhile, the European Union's executive arm considers tailored pricing unjust and prevents customers from making informed choices. Tinder will end age-based pricing by mid-April and will notify customers that its premium service discounts are based on automated algorithms and explain why, such as when users refuse to pay the usual cost. The European Commission stressed the significance of clearly communicating individual discounts.
Also, a class-action lawsuit alleges Match Group apps addict users, trap them in a "perpetual pay-to-play loop," manipulate dopamine by gamifying romance and use dark patterns in site design to trick customers into completing unintentional payments. Match Group called the lawsuit "ridiculous."
by Quincy Jon
See full article at Tech Times
Mark Brooks: In the real world not all singles are created equal. Online dating apps have to deal with this reality to try and level the playing field through pricing mechanisms. Also, I think it is our prerogative and entirely within the bounds of fairness to use behavioral observations, and AB testing to optimize for user conversions. It's not cheap finding millions of singles and maintaining critical mass! Ultimately the value we deliver is worth way more than the cost of a date. We help users get the tough questions out of the way, find reasonably good matches, communicate easily in private, and do better than they might otherwise.
Internet Dating Jobs Listing Update – March 2024
OPW – The new Internet dating jobs listing is live on the Internet Dating Jobs blog.
Below see a couple of this month's most interesting offers:
ParshipMeet Group
Manager Group Projects
Together Light
Entrepreneurial Exec in Int'l BPO/Tech/Business
Grindr
Director of Product & Operations, Customer Experience
Match Group
Director, Product
Matrimony
VP Digital Marketing
Social Discovery Group
CTO (Cupid Media)
Tawkify
VP Marketing
Tinder
Social Impact Director
To see more open positions go here.
Do you have an idating industry job offer which is not included? Please, send it to tips@onlinepersonalswatch.com and we will add it to the list.
How 15 Years of Grindr Has Affected Gay Communities and Dating Culture
Dating App Thursday’s Graffitied Car Stunt in Sydney ‘Backfires’
Valentine’s Day Lawsuit Sparks Debate Over Dating Apps’ Addictive Design
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC – A lawsuit filed on Valentine's Day accuses dating apps owned by Match Group of creating addictive, game-like features that keep users engaged in a cycle of usage. Experts debate whether the addictive nature is due to the apps themselves or the challenge of forming healthy digital habits. The "swipe right" mechanism and the promise of an ideal match can trigger a dopamine-like reward, potentially leading to addiction. Yet, there's also a view that dating apps efficiently facilitate real connections, as millions uninstall these apps yearly after forming relationships. The debate continues on whether the issue lies with the apps, social media's influence, or underlying mental health concerns.