Month: February 2025

Match Group Knew About Repeat Rapists on Tinder and Hinge but Failed to Act

Posted on February 13, 2025
Match Group logo

THE GUARDIAN – Match Group has knowingly allowed sexual predators to continue using its platforms despite multiple reports of assault. A Denver cardiologist, Stephen Matthews, was reported for rape at least 15 times yet remained active on Hinge and other Match-owned apps for years. He was only removed after his arrest in 2023 and later sentenced to 158 years in prison. Internal documents show that Match Group has tracked reports of rape and assault since 2016 but failed to act effectively or inform users. Their Sentinel system, designed to block banned users, was found to be easily bypassed. Despite promising a transparency report in 2020, the company never released it. Match Group responded to the investigation by stating that it is committed to safety, using AI tools, ID verification, and law enforcement partnerships. However, independent tests showed that banned users, including those reported for sexual assault, could easily rejoin the platform. In recent years, Match Group cut its internal safety team, outsourced moderation, and prioritized growth, leading to increased scrutiny from lawmakers.

by Emily Elena Dugdale & Hanisha Harjani
See full article at The Guardian

See the top news on Match Group

Grindr Tests AI Wingman

Posted on February 13, 2025
Grindr app icon

WIRED – Grindr is testing an AI-powered “wingman” chatbot with 10K beta users, designed to assist with conversations, suggest matches, and provide dating advice. CEO George Arison aims to expand Grindr beyond casual hookups, integrating AI-generated chat summaries and travel-focused features. Unlike other chatbots, Grindr’s AI is open to discussing queer topics and kinks but enforces ethical boundaries. A full rollout isn’t expected until 2027.

by Reece Rogers
See full article at Wired

See the top news on Grindr

AI Romance Scams Surge: 52% of Online Daters Targeted

Posted on February 12, 2025
Logo of McAfee

BUSINESSWIRE – McAfee’s research highlights a surge in AI-driven romance scams, with 52% of online daters reporting financial or gift-related scams. 21% have been approached by fake celebrity accounts, with 33% losing money, averaging $1,985 per victim. AI-powered deception is rising, with 26% encountering AI chatbots posing as real people and 32% believing they could develop feelings for an AI companion.

See full article at Businesswire

Betterhalf.ai: AI-Driven Matchmaking With $8.5M Backing and 1M Monthly Users

Posted on February 12, 2025

Betterhalf.ai logoTHE WALRUS – Betterhalf.ai, launched in 2016, is an AI-powered matrimony app in India, claiming 1M monthly users with a 30% retention rate for paid subscribers – three times higher than Bumble and Tinder. Unlike traditional platforms, it removes parental intervention and focuses on AI-driven compatibility matching, using machine learning to refine recommendations. The app verifies users via AI-backed ID and photo checks, supplemented by an offline verification team. In March 2023, it raised $8.5M in Series A funding, backed by investors like Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger and Dropbox co-founder Arash Ferdowsi. Competitors like Shaadi.com and Jeevansathi have faced backlash for caste and skin-color filters, while Betterhalf positions itself as a "marriage superapp", aiming to expand into wedding services and family planning. The broader Indian matrimony industry, valued at $160M, continues to blend tradition with AI-driven innovation.

by Mihika Agarwal
See full article at The Walrus

See the top news on Betterhalf.ai

TanTan Returns to India as Banned Chinese Apps Make a Comeback

Posted on February 11, 2025
Logo of the dating app TanTan

INDIAN EXPRESS – Several previously banned Chinese apps have returned to India, including TanTan, Shein, and Xender, while TikTok remains banned. TanTan, a Tinder-like dating app, has reappeared under new developers – TanTan Cultural Development (Beijing) for iOS and Tantan Hong Kong Limited for Android. The app, which was banned in 2020, is now back on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store, signaling a quiet return to the Indian market.

by Anurag Chawake
See full article at Indian Express

See the top news on Tantan

Announcing LTR Edition 40 With Hanna Kozlowska (Journalist), and Mark Brooks (Founder & CEO of IDEA)

Posted on February 11, 2025

LTR
OPW – Edition 40 of the LTR (Love, Tech, Relationships) online experience will be on Wednesday, February 19, at 1 pm EST (New York time).

In this edition, Hanna Kozlowska, a highly respected journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Vox, NBC News, Politico Europe, and more, joins us for an in-depth interview. Hanna is currently writing U Up?, a social history of online dating. She will discuss her focus, insights, and key takeaways from her research, offering a journalist’s perspective on how online dating has evolved. Then, Mark Brooks, industry veteran, and LTR conferences organizer, will break down the top online dating news of 2024, highlighting the most influential reporters covering the space and the companies that generated the most media attention on Online Personals Watch. 

If you hold a full-time leadership role at an Internet dating company, you are welcome to join IDEA and LTR events for free.

Why attend LTR?

💰 Free: No registration fees – your budget is no barrier.

🏠 Flexible: Attend from anywhere – no travel required.

⏰ Convenient: Access live. 90 minutes only.

See the LTR Edition 40 speakers and invite page here

Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com to RSVP.

This LTR is kindly sponsored by RealMe and Dating Through Curiosity.

“Bored of Dating Apps” Events Help Singles Connect in Real Life

Posted on February 10, 2025

Bored of Dating Apps logoBUSINESS INSIDER – Frustrated with dating apps, Jess Evans launched Bored of Dating Apps (BODA) in 2022, attracting 200+ singles to her first event. Now hosting events in London, Manchester, and New York, BODA offers real-life connections through socials, hikes, supper clubs, and themed meetups. Many singles feel burned out by dating apps, with 79% of Gen Z reporting app fatigue (Forbes, 2023) and Match Group's stock dropping 64% in five years as users decline.

by Lindsay Dodgson
See full article at Business Insider

AI in Dating Apps: Innovation or the End of Authentic Connections?

Posted on February 10, 2025

AI in dating appsWIRED – AI is rapidly integrating into dating apps, with platforms like Grindr, Tinder, Hinge, and Iris Dating adding AI-driven features like match recommendations, chatbots, and profile optimization. While some users find AI tools helpful, others are skeptical, citing concerns about authenticity, privacy, and overreliance on algorithms. Despite AI's promise to improve matchmaking, many daters still feel like part of a numbers game, questioning whether AI can truly enhance human connections or if it's just another layer of digital interference.

by Reece Rogers
See full article at Wired

Julie Ferman Expands Matchmaking to Denver With Unique Pay-As-You-Like Model

Posted on February 10, 2025

Julie FermanACCESS NEWSWIRE – Matchmaker Julie Ferman is launching a Denver hub, adding to her LA and Santa Fe locations. Unlike traditional high-cost matchmaking, her Pay-As-You-Like model offers free introductions with no upfront fees or contracts. Inspired by her Mitzvah Match Initiative, which has led to ~500 free matches since 2020, she introduces people based on compatibility, not payments. Her goal is to make matchmaking more accessible and community-driven, offering event invitations and personal referrals to those who register privately.

See full article at Access Newswire