Month: July 2024

Ashley Coates Discusses “Thursday” Dating App Events

Posted on July 18, 2024

ABC7 – Ashley Coates, the Chicago host for the dating app "Thursday," stopped by ABC 7 Eyewitness News to discuss the app and its unique approach to dating. She shared insights about the app's weekly events, which are designed for those tired of traditional dating apps, held every Thursday.

by Tony Smith
See full article at ABC7

See the top news on Thursday

Shaadi.com and Truecaller Partner to Enhance User Safety

Posted on July 17, 2024

Shaadi TruecallerANI NEWS – Shaadi.com has partnered with Truecaller to improve user safety in online matchmaking. Truecaller's Verified Business Caller ID solution helps users identify genuine calls from Shaadi.com. Truecaller is a global leader in verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Stockholm, Truecaller has ~400M active users and ~1B downloads. Truecaller has identified and blocked close to 46B unwanted calls in 2023 alone.

See full article at ANI News

See the top news on Shaadi

Starboard Acquires 6.5% Stake in Match Group, Pushes for Innovation and Margin Improvement

Posted on July 16, 2024

Match Group logoCNBC – Starboard Value, led by Jeff Smith, has acquired a 6.5% stake in Match Group and advocates for the company to focus on product innovation and margin improvement. If CEO Bernard Kim cannot execute a successful turnaround, Starboard suggests Match should consider going private. Match shares have dropped over 80% from their 2021 highs, with multiple activists showing interest. The stock surged nearly 9% in extended trading on Monday after the Wall Street Journal reported on Starboard's stake.

by Rohan Goswami
See full article at CNBC

See the top news on Match Group

This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com

Majority of Israeli Singles Are Looking for a Committed Relationship

Posted on July 16, 2024

OkCupid logoTHE JERUSALEM POST – 75% of Israeli singles are looking for a committed relationship this summer in light of the ongoing war, according to data published by OKCupid in Israel. When asked what OkCupid's users were most looking forward to this summer, 43% of the respondents said they plan to travel the country and around the world and 38% expressed a desire to go on dates. Concerning the Israel-Hamas War, 11% of the singles expressed depression and stress, and 32% of the respondents expressed hope and optimism. The Remaining 57% reported a combination of emotions. The war has made singles more eager to find lasting relationships, according to the data OkCupid gathered.

See full article at The Jerusalem Post

See the top news on OkCupid

How Hinge CEO Justin McLeod Plans to Use AI

Posted on July 15, 2024

Justin McLeod, CEO of HingeFAST COMPANY – Hinge's founder and CEO, Justin McLeod, discusses the state of dating in 2024 and the transformative potential of an AI dating coach. Unlike other apps focusing on engagement and retention, Hinge prioritizes getting users on good dates. This approach led to innovations like rich profiles, interactive prompts, and meaningful comments. McLeod acknowledges that dating apps don't work for everyone. Many users struggle to progress from matches to relationships. AI can act as a personalized dating coach, helping users improve their profiles, select better photos, and write effective prompts, especially benefiting those less adept at online dating. Hinge's marketing strategy focuses on being genuinely helpful rather than provocative. They deliver practical advice through data reports and campaigns tailored to specific communities, such as the queer audience.

by Robert Safian
See full article at Fast Company

See the top news on Hinge

New Japanese Dating App Helps Find AI Partner Bots for Lonely Individuals

Posted on July 15, 2024

Loverse appINTERESTING ENGINEERING – Loverse, a new Japanese AI-dating app, connects users with digital partners to address the country's loneliness crisis. With ~5K users, it aims to offer companionship, particularly to men in their 40s and 50s. Loverse seeks to help users reacclimate to dating and improve communication skills, making it a training ground for real relationships. While the app primarily serves men, it plans to expand to women and the LGBTQ community. Tokyo's government is also developing an AI-driven dating app to combat declining fertility rates.

by Maria Mocerino
See full article at Interesting Engineering

Mattr: the First Neurodiverse Dating App

Posted on July 15, 2024

Mattr SocialINDY100 – A study found that ~6% of neurodivergent people feel represented on dating apps, with many experiencing negative emotions. In response, Jamie Johnston, diagnosed with ADHD, created Mattr in 2023. This app prioritizes mental health and accessibility, allowing users to take breaks, supports video replies, and replaces swiping with personality-led questions, offering seven curated matches daily. Mattr includes a daily mental health check-in and an Honesty Box for sharing personal truths. Mandatory face verification ensures genuine connections. Mattr is available in London, with plans to expand across the UK.

by Becca Monaghan
See full article at Indy100 

See the top news on Mattr

FTC Study Finds ‘Dark Patterns’ Used by a Majority of Subscription Apps and Websites

Posted on July 12, 2024

Ftc logo2TECH CRUNCH – The FTC and international consumer protection networks studied 642 websites and apps offering subscriptions, finding that ~76% employed manipulative "dark patterns" to influence user behavior. These patterns include tactics like sneaking auto-renewals (81%), making cancellation difficult (70%), and using social proof (21.5%) to push subscriptions. The report suggests increased FTC scrutiny of these practices amid ongoing legal actions, highlighting concerns over consumer privacy and fair market practices.

by Sarah Perez
See full article at Tech Crunch

Hinge and Grindr Are Leaving Bumble and Tinder in the Dust

Posted on July 11, 2024

Dating app user growth 2024QUARTZ – "Online dating trends have continued to decelerate industry-wide, showing minimal relief from the recent struggles," Morgan Stanley analysts Nathan Feather and Brian Nowak wrote in a research note Tuesday. They pointed out that Hinge and Grindr were doing well. Hinge has seen a huge surge in paying users this year. User downloads increased 14% YOY in the Q2. Bumble's global user downloads rose only 2% in Q2. Tinder's downloads fell ~12% in Q2. And while Grindr hasn't seen a big increase in users, its stock has soared 120% from last year and ~32% from last month.

by Laura Bratton
See full article at Quartz

See the top news on Hinge
See the top news on Grindr
See the top news on Bumble

Andrew Conru Takes Back FriendFinder Networks, Will Put User Interests Ahead of Profits

Posted on July 11, 2024

Andrew was raised in Indiana to farming parents, studied engineering in college and earned a PhD from Stanford Uni (and also went on to lecture there). In 1994 he invented the first online dating site (WebPersonals), then Friend Finder in 1996, which grew to 20+ communities. In 2007, he sold control and stepped away to find himself. He worked on philanthropic ventures and learned to paint. Now he's back as 80% owner of FFN, has a new CEO, Brock Purpura and promises to put members before profits, and has made the following changes.

– Gold members now have FULL access to the site
– It's 2024. FFN is no longer an adult site…it is now a community for adults.
– Changed content filter categories so members can remove risque pics
– Dropped the cost of points/message
…There's also several anti-scammer tools in development