TECH CRUNCH – Hinge has updated its moderation policy to be less punitive. Instead of banning entire accounts for a single violation, the platform will now flag the specific issue, hide the profile from discovery until it’s corrected, and notify the user with clear instructions. Accounts with repeated or severe violations will still face permanent bans.
See full article at Tech Crunch
PR NEWSWIRE – Plenty of Fish has released its 2026 dating trends, showing that singles are moving toward more authentic, spontaneous, and straightforward relationships. Highlights include: finding unexpected chemistry, dating for the experience, being open to people outside your usual “type,” showing up as your real self, and clearly defining relationship status instead of staying in vague situationships.
See full article at PR Newswire
BUSINESS INSIDER – Amata is a new dating app rolling out in New York that swaps swiping for an AI matchmaker, which proposes a date and handles the planning; DMs only open two hours before meeting. Users pay a $16 per match (with plans to raise the price), can bank the token if a date cancels, and repeat cancelers get a 7-day pause. The company raised $6M pre-seed and learns from post-date feedback to improve matching. Its founder, Ludovic Huraux, previously built Attractive World and Shapr.
See full article at Business Insider
LINKEDIN – Matrimony.com partnered with Truecaller to add one-click authentication to Bharat Matrimony, replacing OTPs and manual entry for faster, more secure onboarding and higher user confidence. Truecaller, headquartered in Stockholm, is the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication, serving 433M+ monthly users to build trust in communication for people and businesses.
See full article at LinkedIn
HINGE – Hinge has launched in Mexico, its first market in Latin America, after growth in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Founded in 2012 by Justin McLeod, the app positions itself around getting people to real-life dates and says users set up a date every two seconds in existing markets. The Mexico rollout includes Spanish support and the company’s standard safety and inclusion policies.
See full article at Hinge website
FORTUNE – “Throning” is Gen Z’s term for dating someone higher status to boost one’s own standing. Plenty of Fish reports ~30% of singles try it, and a Science Advances study shows users aim about 25% “above” their own desirability. Inspired by celebrity pairings (e.g., Kim Kardashian/Kanye West), it’s less about money than access to networks and reputation. Experts say it can pay off long term, even after a breakup, because connections and credibility often stick, but it’s driven by social media status culture and only works if you treat people respectfully rather than using them.
See full article at Fortune
TECH CRUNCH – TechCrunch Disrupt (Oct 27–29, 2025, Moscone West, SF) will host a panel on AI and modern relationships featuring Eugenia Kuyda (Replika), Mark Kantor (Tinder), and Dr. Amanda Gesselman (Kinsey Institute). They’ll examine how recommendation engines shape dating, the psychology of AI companionship, what’s gained/lost when intimacy is optimized, and key ethical risks. Early registration savings (up to $668) end Sept 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
See full article at Tech Crunch
REUTERS – On Sept 24, US senators Maggie Hassan and Marsha Blackburn sent Match Group a letter demanding, by Oct 15, details on how Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid detect and prevent romance scams. They warn that the apps’ design can create a false sense of trust that scammers exploit, citing the FBI’s $16 billion in global cybercrime losses last year, including significant losses from romance scams. The letter references Match’s past FTC case and asks for concrete anti-fraud measures as the company introduces new AI-driven features.
See full article at Reuters
PROLIFIC NORTH – Manchester entrepreneur and widowed founder Nicky Wake (Chapter 2 Dating, WidowsFire) has launched The Widowed Collective, a not-for-profit CIC offering peer support, practical resources, and social events for anyone who has lost a partner. Membership is free with access to a private forum and online/in-person meetups. The first in-person event is Thu 2 Oct, 6–9pm at The Alchemist, New York Street, Manchester. The Collective is recruiting Advocates to lead local groups and help with fundraising/governance. It aims to grow across the UK and is fundraising to expand to the US. All proceeds are reinvested into the community.
See full article at Prolific North
FAST COMPANY – At Fast Company’s Innovation Festival, Hinge CEO Justin McLeod said Hinge’s Q2 growth, revenue up 25% YoY and paying users up 18%, stems from three principles: keep the free experience strong (charge only for scarce, optional perks like Roses/Boosts), build for underserved users (e.g., Match Note for LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, single parents, people with STIs), and use AI where it’s useful (Prompt Feedback for better profiles, photo selection help, and “Are you sure?” checks before sending risky messages). He contrasted this with rivals’ declines (Bumble paying users −8.7% and revenue −7.6%; Tinder down 1.2M paid since early 2024, with Q2 2025 revenue −4.6%). Longer term, he expects AI to deliver highly personalized matches that reduce swiping.
See full article at Fast Company