Category: All Worldwide (non UK/Euro/US)

Lunch Actually CEO Urges Singles to Start Dating Earlier

Posted on October 15, 2026
Lunch Actually CEO Violet Lim

THE STRAITS TIMES – Lunch Actually CEO Violet Lim encourages young people to date during university rather than wait until their careers are established. Speaking to The Straits Times, she said rising expectations, endless choice and reluctance to commit are making relationships harder to build. She advises singles to decide whether to meet after about a week of chatting and consider a second date even without an immediate spark. Lunch Actually says it has arranged over 150K dates and matched ~ 4,500 married couples. Lim reports growing client numbers, including more people in their late 50s, 60s, and 70s seeking companionship.

See full article at The Straits Times

South Korea’s Matchmaking Agencies Grow 34% Since 2016

Posted on October 15, 2026
Korea's Matchmaking Firms Grow 34% as Wedding Halls Shrink

SEOUL ECONOMIC DAILY – South Korea had 2,176 registered matchmaking agency operators in August, up 34.4% from 2016, according to National Tax Service data. Over the same period, wedding venue operators fell 30.6% to 762. The divergence comes as marriages recover, reaching 240,326 last year, the highest since 2018. Marriages continued to rise this year, with July registrations up 9.3% compared with a year earlier.

See full article at Seoul Economic Daily

Study: Most Australian Singles Are Open to Breakfast Dates

Posted on October 6, 2026
Most Australian Singles Are Open to Breakfast Dates

NEW YORK POST – A Kellogg’s survey found that 64% of Australian singles are open to breakfast first dates, while 31% believe morning dates reduce the pressure. Breakfast and coffee dates are also cheaper and offer an easy exit if there is no chemistry.

See full article at New York Post

Flutrr Rebrands as India’s Love Marriage App

Posted on October 5, 2026
Flutrr Rebrands as India’s Love Marriage App

ADGULLY – Indian dating platform Flutrr has rebranded as “The Love Marriage App,” targeting singles who want to choose their own partner and date with marriage in mind. The app uses Aadhaar, India’s national identity system, to verify users. Its compatibility recommendations include Vedic astrology, an Indian tradition that compares birth details to assess whether two people are suited to each other. Users can involve their families when they are ready.

See full article at Adgully

Singapore Launches Government Dating Service FirstDate

Posted on September 30, 2026
Promotional banner for 'FirstDate,' an initiative aimed at supporting singles aged 21-35 in their dating journey, requiring verification through Singpass.

MASHABLE – Singapore’s government has launched FirstDate, a pilot dating service for public-sector employees aged 21 to 35. Users answer questions about their values, habits, and preferences, then receive one suggested match at a time. The service uses the Gale-Shapley algorithm, which compares each person’s ranked preferences to identify pairings that are mutually suitable. Both people have 72 hours to accept before their contact details are shared. Accounts are verified through Singapore’s national digital ID system.

See full article at Mashable

Hinge Reaches 1.47M Users in India Ahead of Marketing Push

Posted on September 29, 2026
Hinge app icon

FORBES INDIA – Hinge has an estimated 1.47M users in India, making it the app’s third-largest market by user numbers. India also generates its second-highest volume of downloads after the US, despite Hinge doing little local marketing during its ten years in the country. Hinge plans to begin marketing in India for the first time later this month, supported by new safety features developed for the market. CEO Jackie Jantos said the company expects further growth beyond its current concentration in Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities.

See full article at Forbes India

Young Japanese Singles Turn to Professional Matchmakers

Posted on September 29, 2026
IBJ

NEW YORK TIMES – Professional matchmaking is gaining ground among younger singles in Japan. IBJ, one of the country’s largest matchmaking companies, has seen membership grow ~50% over the past five years, while first-half revenue jumped 44% to ~$91M. The company says its network is involved in roughly one in every 25 marriages in Japan. Members receive support from consultants throughout the dating process, with typical costs including monthly fees of $30 to $100, enrollment fees of $650 to $1,300, and a $1,300 success fee upon engagement. IBJ is also targeting younger singles with advertising such as “Better one omiai than 100 swipes.”

See full article at New York Times

Indian Singles Want Deeper Connections and Safer Dating Apps

Posted on September 28, 2026
Indian Singles Want Deeper Connections and Safer Dating Apps

THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE – A Match Group-commissioned Ipsos survey of 1K single Indians found that 40% currently use dating apps and 55% expect to use one within the next year. ~72% prefer fewer but deeper connections, while the same proportion of those seeking a relationship would only date someone they could see a long-term future with. Safety remains a concern for 60%, and 52% consider verified profiles and strong safety measures important when choosing an app. Although 63% said dating apps help them feel less alone, 58% feel connected online but lonely in real life.

See full article at The Hindu Business Line

Australia Considers Digital Duty of Care for Dating Apps

Posted on September 22, 2026
Australia Considers Digital Duty of Care for Dating Apps

ABC.NET. AU – Australia is considering including dating apps in its proposed digital duty of care. Platforms would have to take steps to prevent risks such as stalking, sexual violence, serious abuse and image-based abuse, rather than waiting for users to report them. The rules could also cover messaging apps, online games, search engines and AI services. Consultation has closed, and draft legislation is expected in October 2026.

See full article at ABC.net.au

99% of Women Report Abuse on Dating Apps

Posted on September 22, 2026
99% of Women Report Abuse on Dating Apps

BIT – A new report from the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), funded by the Minderoo Foundation, found that 99% of Australian women surveyed had experienced some form of tech-based abuse on dating platforms in the previous three months. Psychological and emotional abuse was the most common, while many women chose to unmatch or avoid offenders rather than report them. The report calls on dating platforms to take more responsibility for safety, including detecting harmful behaviour earlier, improving reporting, and preventing offenders from creating new accounts.

See full article at BIT