DW NEWS – Bumble’s $1.3B sale marks a steep fall from its ~$14B valuation five years ago, as dating apps struggle with user burnout. Online dating industry analyst and Courtland Brooks CEO Mark Brooks says interest in meeting offline has grown since COVID. “People have woken up; they’re starting to go out more. They’re more interested in IRL,” he says. Dr. Jess Carbino, former sociologist for Tinder and Bumble, questions the industry’s pace of innovation, saying dating apps have changed little since 2012. Companies are now looking to AI to improve matchmaking. Bumble is exploring AI-curated recommendations, while Tinder’s Chemistry feature would analyse users’ camera rolls, with permission, to understand their interests.
Mark Brooks: People need more than the simple swipe. Tinder has woken up to this and is adapting with real innovation. Hinge + Tinder are a potent combination against Bumble. Bumble is an unusual dating app. It could become more social.