FORBES – Tinder is overhauling its app to win back Gen Z, who are turning away from hookup culture, swiping fatigue, and unsafe user experiences. CEO Spencer Rascoff is shifting focus toward better user experience with AI features, safety improvements, and new tools like group dating. Gen Z wants authentic, in-person connections, and Tinder is adapting before it loses more ground – despite flatlined growth and being ranked last in a UX study. Match Group has cut 13% of its workforce and is prioritizing long-term user satisfaction over short-term profit.
Month: June 2025
Tinder Launches RelationChips Snack
ADAGE – Tinder launched “RelationChips,” a limited-edition snack to promote its claim that a new relationship starts on the app every three seconds, the time it takes to eat a chip. The chips come with a QR code for a free week of Tinder Gold.
The Feels – Touchy-feely Singles Mixers
LOS ANGELES TIMES – The Feels is an in-person singles event founded by Allie Hoffman that combines somatic exercises, meditation, and guided prompts to help participants connect emotionally and physically without relying on dating apps. Launched in 2022 in New York, it has since expanded to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, D.C., and Philadelphia. Events are tailored by community type (e.g. queer, monogamous) and cost $75–150. Attendees engage in activities like eye gazing, hand holding, and shared breathing to assess compatibility through physical presence and nervous system responses, rather than appearance or profiles. Hoffman aims to expand to 3–4 events per month in L.A. by fall.
The Psychological Impact of Dating Apps
WASHINGTON POST – Dating apps can offer convenience and access to potential partners, but therapists note they may also contribute to emotional fatigue, addictive behavior, and decreased self-esteem when used excessively or for validation. Common issues include swiping-based objectification, mismatched expectations, and dopamine-driven engagement patterns. However, apps can be beneficial for those who prefer controlled environments or have difficulty with in-person dating. Experts recommend limiting app use to once a day, being clear about personal goals, seeking partners with aligned intentions, and avoiding dependence on external approval. Methods like the "Burned Haystack" approach, setting specific criteria and filtering out mismatches, can help users engage with dating apps more effectively and protect their mental well-being.
Decoding the Stanford University Student Dating Landscape
MARK BROOKS – Yesterday I interviewed the CEO/Founder of The Marriage Pact at the LTR conference. Their 2024 Stanford Marriage Pact Campus Report offers a fascinating glimpse into the romantic dynamics of Stanford students. One striking finding is the difference in openness to nonmonogamous relationships across majors, with English majors showing the highest propensity. Another key takeaway is the evolving approach to commitment based on class year. Freshmen appear more inclined to "settle down" while seniors actually lean more towards casual connections. The report also reveals political divides. A significant 75% of socialists, for example, would not date a Republican. This underscores the impact of political views on dating preferences. The data on gender and sexual orientation is noteworthy, with about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men identifying as non-heterosexual.
Tinder and Hinge Gave 3-Hour Pitches – Rascoff Saw Why One Is Winning
FAST COMPANY – After taking over as CEO of Match Group in February, Spencer Rascoff, former Zillow CEO, set out to understand the company's 45+ dating apps, including Tinder and Hinge. With Match's stock down over 80% since 2021 and Tinder's growth stalled, Rascoff asked the leadership teams of Tinder and Hinge to each deliver a three-hour presentation. Tinder's team focused heavily on financials, product roadmaps, and internal culture. In contrast, Hinge's team began with deep consumer insights on how Gen Z and millennials date, think, and connect, only briefly mentioning financials at the end. Rascoff said this user-first mindset explains Hinge's 39% revenue growth and Tinder's stagnation. Days later, Tinder CEO Faye Iosotaluno resigned. Match shares rose 1.3% following the news.
by Yasmin Gagne
See full article at Fast Company
See the top news on Match Group
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Harvard: the Top Use of AI Is Now ‘Therapy & Companionship’
MARK BROOKS – At the Global Love Conference last month I made the outrageous prediction that by 2030 your best friend will be an AI. Why? Because you will be able to gift AI and enable it with deep access into the nuances of your life and behaviors, and it will eventually get to know you more deeply than anyone on the planet. It will also be smarter than anyone on the planet. Therefore, it is only logical to infer that it will give you the best, most informed advice, and if given permission, it will become a superior friend to you. Freaky, yes, I know.
Harvard Business Review ran this article showing their assessment of how people are using Gen AI. “Therapy/Companionship” has now moved to the top spot. Our world is being transformed. The dating industry more so.
{This analysis was brought to us by Marc Zao-Sanders, creator of Timeboxing.}
For more help navigating this crazy freaky dating world we’re moving into please see my online dating business consultancy & agency Courtland Brooks. Or, join IDEA Gold. – Mark Brooks
Mattr Nears Final 4% of Funding Round – Just £35K Left to Raise
LINKEDIN – Mattr, the dating app focused on vulnerability and real connection, is down to the final £35K of its funding round. Launched by Jamie Johnston post-pandemic, the platform has hit 26K+ downloads, 52K conversations, and 57 brand partners – built by a team of just three. After stalling with VCs, they turned to angels and lean execution, prioritizing trust and product focus. Mattr was just named one of London’s Top 100 Startups of 2025 in Entrepreneur Magazine (p. 70–71).
Hinge Bets on Slow Dating and Real-World Connection as Gen Z Turns Away From Swiping Apps
TECH CRUNCH – Hinge CMO Jackie Jantos spoke at SXSW London about the app's focus on reducing loneliness among Gen Z by encouraging more intentional dating and in-person connection. Hinge has seen growth in revenue and downloads, outperforming Tinder in Q1 2025. The platform is testing features like chat limits, profile coaching, and Warm Introductions to improve match quality. A new AI recommender launched in March has increased matches by 15%. Hinge also launched the $1M One More Hour fund to support Gen Z social initiatives and continues to run campaigns and events that promote real-world connection.
Grindr Launches ‘Right Now’ Live Feed Globally to Drive Revenue
INDIAN EXPRESS – Grindr has rolled out Right Now, a live, disappearing-post feed, to all users worldwide after successful testing. The feature shows posts with text and photos that vanish after an hour and is available in limited free sessions, with paid options coming soon. Designed to enable faster, intention-based connections, Right Now is part of Grindr's broader push to boost monetization. Grindr is also investing in AI, using tools like A-List and Wingman to enhance chats and match quality.
