ZME SCIENCE – A study by Paul Eastwick at UC Davis, analyzing 4,500 blind dates from matchmaking service Tawkify, found that both men and women prefer younger partners, challenging traditional dating norms. While women typically say they prefer older partners, their actual attraction leaned toward younger men. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study suggests real-life attraction differs from stated preferences.
PR NEWSWIRE – Feeld's report, The State of Dating Vol. 2, highlights online dating's role in safety and inclusion, especially for marginalized communities. 83% of trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer respondents prefer online dating for safety, and 40% feel more secure connecting online first. Key concerns include privacy (58%) and blocking/reporting tools (53%), emphasizing the need for safer digital spaces.
CHAPTER 2 – Chapter 2's report, Love After Loss: Rediscovering Joy and Connection, reveals the challenges widows and widowers face when dating again. 90% say their late partner's memory influences new relationships, 71% feel uncomfortable with modern dating, and 46% struggle with online platforms. Timing is another hurdle, with 22% feeling they waited too long and 15% starting too soon. Family plays a key role, as 80% have children to consider.
PR NEWSWIRE – Three Day Rule has introduced a $1M Matchmaking Experience, a year-long service limited to three clients worldwide. It offers personalized matchmaking, coaching for both clients and their matches, and concierge-level date planning. The package also includes post-match relationship support and a custom engagement ring if a proposal happens within the service period. The program reflects a growing trend of high-end, personalized dating services catering to those seeking a structured approach to finding a partner.
OPW – The CEO of Tawkify is departing in February. Kellie Ammerman was CEO for 2 1/2 years and President for 3 1/2 years before that. She ran the company from her home in Stockholm for the last few years. The new CEO is Christopher Kumar, who has been Chief of Staff for the last 2 years. Tawkify is a leading American matchmaking firm, which was started by Kenneth Shaw in 2012 (with a little help from E.Jean Carroll).
BODY + SOUL – Hily, a dating app encouraging users to focus on compatibility, introduces its "Icks&Clicks" feature to move beyond superficial judgments. The app's 40-question quiz assesses communication styles, values, and turn-offs (icks) to match users based on shared traits and priorities. It aims to reduce dating fatigue by shifting focus from photos to personality. Hily also offers icebreakers and tips to ease conversations. Founder Alex Pasykov highlights how the feature encourages daters to look past initial impressions.
LITTLE BLACK BOOK – Mattr, a dating app launched in 2023, has introduced its first ad campaign across London, promoting a new approach to online dating. The app creates real, inclusive connections by replacing swiping and algorithms with features like daily match limits, an “honesty box” for meaningful conversations, and strong safety measures. The campaign, created by Havas London, uses taglines like “less swipe, more swoon” to highlight frustrations with traditional dating apps and encourage singles to embrace more intentional and relaxed ways of meeting people.
PR NEWSWIRE – Knorr and Tinder have partnered to launch a #UnlockYourGreenFlag campaign, encouraging singles to add cooking as an interest on their Tinder profiles. A joint survey revealed that 93% of Gen Z daters view cooking as a “green flag” because it demonstrates care, independence, and thoughtfulness. Cooking also increases matches, with 63% of respondents more likely to say yes to a profile featuring this skill.
DECCAN CHRONICLE – Gleeden, the extramarital dating platform, has reached 3M users in India, a 270% growth in 2024, with women accounting for 58% of users and registrations up by 128%. The platform is most popular among users aged 30-50, with 40% of women actively using it for up to 45 minutes daily, especially late at night. Gleeden plans to expand further in India, aiming for 5M users by 2025.
AXIOS – Tinder partnered with TikTok influencers to attract Gen Z users, addressing declining interest in dating apps and a preference for in-person connections. A TikTok campaign featuring influencers sharing their dating experiences (#theconnectionexperience) increased Gen Z’s positive perception of dating apps from 50% to 53%, with 58% of respondents saying they were likely to use Tinder.
