Category: All Gay
Dating App Archer’s New Ads Say (Some) D*ck Pics Are Welcome
Hukup Is a New LGBTQI+ Dating App
STAR OBSERVER – Hukup, a new dating app, aims to create safe spaces for LGBTQI+ users. It offers features like private browsing, adjustable filters, and icebreakers. The app prioritizes safety with chat history-saving image privacy settings.
Hinge Report: “Slowmance” Trends in LGBTQIA+ Dating
BODY & SOUL – Hinge has released its latest D.A.T.E. (Data, Advice, Trends, and Expertise) report, focusing on LGBTQIA+ dating trends. Surveying 14K members, the report reveals a shift towards "slowmance," prioritizing emotional intimacy over fast-paced romance. Key findings include:
- Soft Start: LGBTQIA+ daters prefer humor and light conversation initially, with 80% favoring this approach over deep personal questions.
- Low-Pressure Dates: Casual outings like coffee dates are preferred.
- Soft Launch: Introducing new relationships gradually to friends and family is favored, with 77% supporting open conversations before going public.
New Lesbian Dating App to Use Facial Recognition to Exclude Trans Women
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK – L'App, a new dating app for lesbians, is set to launch using sex-recognition technology to exclude trans women and ensure only biological females can sign up. It is the brainchild of feminist campaigner Jenny Watson, who says there are currently no dating apps which cater purely for women who want same-sex relationships. The software, which Ms Watson claims is 99% accurate, analyses features including bone structure, the shape and positioning of an individual's eyes, eyebrows and nose shape or size.
by Sanchez Manning & Sue Reid
See full article at DailyMail.co.uk
Match-Owned Archer Hits Over Half a Million Installs
TECH CRUNCH – Despite a general slump in the dating app industry, Match Group's Archer app has achieved ~685K downloads since its launch last year. Aimed at gay, bi, and queer men, Archer offers a fresh take on the gay dating scene by incorporating safety features like AI-monitored chats and selfie verification to combat negative behaviors like body shaming and racism. The app distinguishes between casual and serious daters with different user interfaces. With 74% of its users looking for friendships, Archer is focusing on community-building features and plans to introduce a Stories feature and more AI integrations in the future. Match Group is investing significantly in AI, planning to spend $20-30M in 2024 and collaborating with OpenAI.
Podcast: How Archer Is Building a Community for LGBTQ+ Men
ADWEEK – Archer is a social-first dating app for gay, bisexual and queer men. The app partnered with advocacy group GLAAD to ensure it reflects today's queer community, and worked with ~1,200 queer men through surveys, interviews and product testing. In this podcast, Michael Kaye, director of brand marketing and communications at Archer and OkCupid, sheds light on the unique features of Archer and how it stands apart from other dating apps.
LGBTQ+ Dating App Blued Unveils Upgrade to Online Community HeeSay
LGBTQ+ Online Dating: a Historical Overview
THE BAY AREA REPORTER – In 1993, Andy Cramer, the CEO of Caregiving Network, founded Gay.Net, one of the earliest platforms for gay men, especially during the HIV/AIDS crisis. This bulletin board system (BBS) later merged with Gay.com, reaching 4M users by 1999. Back in 1987, Jean Marie Diaz in the U.S. established Sappho, a hub for lesbian email lists. Amy Goodloe further expanded the online lesbian community with lesbian.org in the mid-1990s. In 1999, Gary Frisch and Henry Badenhorst introduced Gaydar, offering chat rooms for queer men. OkCupid launched in 2004 and, while not exclusively LGBTQ+, became popular within the queer community. By 2021, it had broadened its gender and sexual orientation identifiers to 60, collaborating with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD. Joel Simkhai launched Grindr in 2009, the first geolocation dating app specifically for gay men, later expanding its offerings and user base. After leaving Grindr, Simkhai founded Motto, a dating app that aimed to counter "toxicity and discrimination" in some queer dating platforms. In 2015, Robyn Exton established HER, originally known as Dattch, as a platform for the "FLINTA (female, lesbian, intersex, trans, and agender) community," focusing on both dating and community aspects. Tser stands as a dating app for the transgender community, presenting itself as both a dating platform and social community for trans individuals and allies.
Blued, China’s Biggest Gay Dating App Wants to Beat Grindr
REST OF WORLD – China's premier gay dating app, Blued, aims to surpass Grindr on the global stage despite facing domestic challenges due to censorship and competition. Founded in 2012 by Ma Baoli, Blued successfully navigated China's tight restrictions by aligning with state public health initiatives, offering HIV prevention and health services. Blued's parent company, BlueCity, went public in 2020 but faced profitability challenges. After a takeover by Newborn Town, Blued is focusing on expansion in Southeast Asia and the U.S., with plans to become the world's largest LGBTQIA social network. However, the app faces skepticism about its global prospects, particularly in saturated Western markets. The company is also likely to face scrutiny over data privacy and security as it expands in the West, particularly in light of previous concerns around Grindr's Chinese ownership.
by Viola Zhou & Andrew Deck
See full article at Rest of World