PRNEWSWIRE – Dating app DOWN has reached 15M registered users and ranks as the #5 dating app in the U.S. in 2024. The app saw 400% revenue growth this year despite minimal advertising. Known for allowing users to state their relationship intentions clearly, DOWN has introduced new features like personalized "Highlights" and options for exploring interests. Gen Z now makes up over 50% of its user base, surpassing Millennials. DOWN's commitment to transparency and privacy has fueled its rapid growth and user retention.
Month: October 2024
Dating App Ad Spending in 2024 Set to Surpass 2023, With Bumble Leading the Charge
Olympian Alysha Newman Stars in Ad for Exclusive Dating App ‘The League’ After Viral Olympic Twerk
BLOGTO – Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman, who gained attention for her twerking celebration at the Paris Olympics, is now featured in an ad for the high-end dating app The League. In the ad, she playfully says, "You don't want to date me, I'm always aiming higher," while showcasing her pole vaulting skills. The League, a selective dating app for those seeking serious relationships, launched in 2015 and offers memberships starting at $96.99 per week.
The 20 Countries With the Lowest Fertility Rates in 2024
VISUAL CAPITALIST – Worldwide fertility has fallen from an average of 5 births per woman in 1950 to 2.3 births per woman in 2021. (Statista data). A fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is the "replacement rate" and keeps the population stable, assuming no migration and stable mortality.
1.1 Taiwan
1.1 South Korea
1.2 Singapore
1.2 Ukraine
1.2 Hong Kong
1.2 Macau
1.3 Moldova
1.3 Puerto Rico (U.S.)
1.3 Italy
1.3 Spain
1.3 Poland
1.3 Montserrat
1.4 Mauritius
1.4 Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.4 British Virgin Islands
1.4 Japan
1.4 Greece
1.4 Costa Rica
1.4 Bahamas
1.4 Belarus
(Global Average 2.3)
Europe leads the ranking with eight countries, followed by Asia with six, North America with five, and Africa with one. Europe is forecast to experience a population decrease of 7% between 2022 and 2050. Others will peak before 2100.
by Bruno Venditti
See full article at Visual Capitalist
Mark Brooks: These are interesting stats for dating app owners to be aware of. The imperative for having kids is depleting, also, for getting married. Governments are starting to adapt, but all too slowly. A demographic bomb looms that perhaps AI can solve. Singapore is supportive of matchmaking and dating apps. In the future, countries will market for productive immigrant citizens. Dubai welcomes a diverse mix of productive, contributing citizens. A true melting pot with only 12% native Emiratis. (I'm a lifetime paid member of Visual Capital+ and will bring more of their data analysis to OPW as interesting new analyses pop up.)
Match Group Owned Azar Aims to Revive Random Video Chat the U.S.
TECH CRUNCH – Azar, a random video chat app owned by Match Group, has facilitated ~100B global chats and is now entering the U.S. market. Targeting mostly Gen Z users, it seeks to revive the popularity of random chat platforms like Chatroulette and Omegle, but faces challenges due to the negative reputation of these apps, including safety concerns. Azar employs AI and human moderators to prevent inappropriate content, distinguishing itself from its predecessors. Though not a dating app, some use it for that purpose, and its real-time translation feature connects users across languages. CEO Linda Kim believes their focus on safety will help Azar succeed in the U.S.
Seeking’s Transformation: From Sugar Dating to Modern Hypergamy Under Gen Z co-CEO
INDY100 – Seeking, formerly known as Seeking Arrangement, has transformed under the leadership of Gen Z co-CEO Dana Rosewall, moving away from its past association with sugar dating. Dana, who co-leads with her husband and site founder Brandon Wade, is focusing on creating authentic connections, improving women’s safety, and eliminating fraud on the platform.
How AI Is Transforming Online Dating: Insights From happn’s CEO
STARTUPS.CO.UK – Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO of happn, highlights how AI can address key issues in online dating, such as safety and dating fatigue. AI tools can detect suspicious behavior, help eliminate scammers, and offer curated profile selections to combat user fatigue, like happn's 'Daily' feature. She also notes that AI can support partnerships with the hospitality industry by suggesting meeting spots for dates, benefiting both users and businesses. Abdelmalek stresses that AI should be used responsibly to improve the user experience, not just as a marketing tactic.
Advocating a Cross-channel Approach to Marketing [Dating Apps]
THE DRUM – Overreliance on Bottom Of Funnel (BOF) tactics, with search at the core, can no longer sustain long-term growth. Search ad costs have risen consistently. Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) update and growing deprecation of third-party cookies impacted measurement and targeting. Social platforms have been effective at encouraging advertisers to move from BOF to full-funnel investment.
by Chris Howard
See full article at The Drum
Mark Brooks: Courtland Brooks has been experimenting with what we call advocate-influencer marketing, helping clients build a portfolio of monthly storytellers. Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com or book a call with me at koltu.com if you'd like to check out Courtland Brooks some more.
GLAAD and eharmony Report Reveals LGBTQ+ Dating App Challenges and Insights
GLAAD.ORG – GLAAD and eharmony released a report on how LGBTQ+ individuals navigate dating apps and pop culture. Key findings include that 45% of transgender and nonbinary daters avoid disclosing their gender due to fears of fetishization, and concerns about bullying are three times higher among trans participants compared to cis participants. Additionally, 74% of LGBTQ+ respondents believe bisexuality is misunderstood, with 30% of Bi+ daters reporting being fetishized by men. Among cis women, 41% use dating apps to explore their identities, with 61% experiencing deeper emotional intimacy when dating women. The report underscores the need for safer, more inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ people in dating and society.The “Friendship Divide” Explained
SURVEY CENTER ON AMERICAN LIFE – "The primary way that people make friends is through institutions." Recent research from the Survey Center on American Life, shows that college graduates tend to have more friends than those without degrees. The decline of community hubs, such as churches and civic groups, has disproportionately affected non-college-educated individuals, reducing their opportunities to form meaningful social bonds outside work and home. To combat isolation, people need to participate in real-life activities and interactions instead of relying on tech. Study after study shows that, across a range of very different countries, people have fewer friends than previous generations, and they see those friends far less often. It used to be commonly thought that people with a college degree were more likely to be lonely: The more educated you were, the fewer friends you tended to have.
by Daniel A. Cox & Sam Pressler
See full article at Survey Center of American Life
Mark Brooks: There's a four-letter word that really inhibits singles from developing their social networks. That four-letter word is 'Home." Part of our role is, I think, to help singles get out of their comfy homes and out of their comfort zones. Especially, according to this research, lower income, non-college grad singles.