MASHABLE – A Wired investigation found more than two dozen Instagram accounts that may have used AI-generated images to promote gay dating app Goose. The fake accounts allegedly contacted men through direct messages and Close Friends stories before advertising the app. Goose denied using fake profiles, stating that it hand-picked invitees and works to keep its platform free from inauthentic accounts.
BIANET – An İstanbul court has ordered an access block on several LGBTI+ dating apps. The banned apps are HeeSay, Taimi, SCRUFF, Jack’d, Surge, ROMEO, BEARWW, Shuggr, and Daddyhunt. During the 2026 Pride Month, authorities also blocked access to X accounts of many LGBTI+ groups.
BIANET – Turkey has once again blocked access to LGBTQ+ social networking and dating app Hornet, following a June 2026 court order. The platform has more than 100 million users globally and over 3 million users in Turkey. The move comes less than three years after Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled that a previous ban on Hornet violated freedom of expression and freedom of communication, leading to the app’s reinstatement in 2023.
WIRED – New gay dating apps are entering the market with a stronger focus on privacy, niche communities, and alternative ownership models. MeetMarket, launched in March, uses a decentralised system where user data is stored on devices rather than company servers. The platform reached ~12K sign-ups within 48 hours and 60K users overall, with memberships priced at €12 per month. Meanwhile, Toronto-based developer Justin Finnegan launched Chunkr, a community-focused app aimed at the bear community, while also developing a second platform called Rush. Another app, Streakr, launched recently for both gay and straight daters.
BLOOMBERG – Seattle-based Sniffies (3m MAU) has a real-time map for gay hookups and is web-only due to app store content restrictions. The news caused Grindr shares to fall 2.5%. Match’s stock was little changed. Last Match purchased HER app. Match is winding down its existing Archer app, which it launched in 2023 to serve queer men. It will focus instead on supporting Sniffies.
RFI – France has signed a charter with major dating apps, including Tinder, Grindr, Bumble, and Happn, to combat rising homophobic ambushes, where victims are lured by fake profiles and attacked. The agreement focuses on three pillars: prevent, report, and protect. Platforms will improve reporting tools, retain and share data with law enforcement (even after account deletion), promote verified profiles, and strengthen bans. France positions this as a first-of-its-kind coordinated effort between government, tech platforms, and advocacy groups to tackle targeted anti-LGBT+ violence.
GRINDR – Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled that same-sex marriages performed in other EU countries must be recognized in Poland, giving legal status to an estimated 30K–40K Polish couples married abroad. The ruling follows advocacy from local organizations, supported by Grindr for Equality through campaigns and partner initiatives. Full marriage equality remains the goal.
THE PINK NEWS – Malaysia has blocked access to Grindr and Blued and is considering further action against other LGBTQ+ dating platforms, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced on 25 February. He said authorities are reviewing legal measures to restrict apps deemed to violate local laws, including those involving immoral or unlawful content. Same-sex activity remains illegal in Malaysia and carries severe criminal penalties under federal and state laws.
QUEERTY – Blued launched in 2012 and rapidly surpassed Grindr to become the world’s largest gay dating app by user count. Founded by former police officer Ma Baoli, the app expanded beyond dating into social networking and HIV-related public health services, became publicly listed, and reached a multimillion-dollar valuation. Beginning in 2021, a broader LGBTQ+ crackdown under Xi Jinping led to increased censorship of queer platforms. In late 2025, Blued and its youth-focused sister app Finka were removed from app stores in mainland China and remain unavailable as of early 2026, with users awaiting a possible return. Chinese writer Yi-Ling Liu documents Blued’s rise and subsequent censorship in her book The Wall Dancers.
THE PINK NEWS – HER, a lesbian dating app, went viral after placing suggestive bowling ball–themed billboards in New York and Los Angeles as part of a New Year campaign. The ads sparked widespread discussion on TikTok, drawing both criticism and praise for their explicit innuendo. The attention highlights HER’s use of provocative marketing to stand out, alongside its continued emphasis on being an inclusive platform for queer women and non-binary users.