SCOOP.CO.NZ – June 1 – The Taxpayers Union in New Zealand is questioning the cost of Marsden Grants awarded to academic research of dubious value. 259 grants were awarded in the last two years, accounting for $158M of public money, including $300K to examine how New Zealanders are using dating apps. Recommendations for funding are made by a council of 11 researchers hand-picked by the Minister for Research, Science and Innovation.
Category: All Worldwide (non UK/Euro/US)
Aisle Introduces “Settle Down” Feature
1.7M Users’ Data Likely Leaked From Japan Dating App Operator
JAPAN TIMES – May 22 – Japanese dating app operator Net Marketing said personal data of 1.71M users, including names and photos, was likely leaked due to unauthorized access to its server. The operator of the Omiai dating app said data collected between January 2018 and last month might have been stolen. The data included addresses and dates of birth from identification, including passports, drivers' licenses and health insurance cards, provided to the company. As of last September, the company had ~5M subscribers.
BlueCity Announces Resignation of Its CFO
PR NEWSWIRE – May 20 – Mr. Zhiyong (Ben) Li is resigning from his position as the Company's CFO due to personal reasons, effective May 20, 2021. Mr. Li will serve as the Company's financial advisor for the next six months. Mr. Junchen Sun, the Company's Vice President, Finance, will assume the role of acting CFO.
India’s Second Wave Sees 25% Surge in Dating App Users
DESIBLITZ – May 20 – Able Joseph, founder and CEO of the dating app Aisle, said: "In the last month, we've seen 28% user growth and 25% increase in daily active users." Joseph added that since the pandemic began, Aisle has seen more users above the age of 30 upgrading to premium accounts sooner than before. As well as Aisle, Bumble has also seen a rise in users. Bumble's nationwide survey revealed that 38% of single Indians hope to be in a committed relationship in 2021.
Money the Biggest Cause of Conflict for Couples, Says eharmony
MOZO – May 19 – According to new research from eharmony, more than half of Aussie couples (58%) cite money as the biggest cause of conflict in their relationship. 20% of Aussies keep their bank balances separate, while one in ten (14%) admitted to hiding things like credit cards, personal loans and bank accounts from their partner. Sadly, almost a quarter (20%) of Aussies believed a partner would judge their spending habits, which could explain why many chose to hide their financial habits.
Matrimony Reports Strong Net Profit Growth of 38% in FY21
NEWSPATROLLING – May 11 – Matrimony's fey financial highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2021:
- Billing at Rs 106.7 crores ($14.5M) (up 10.8% YOY)
- Revenue at Rs 101.1 crores ($13.8M) (up 7.5% YOY)
- Profit After Tax (PAT) at Rs 10.1 crores ($1.4M) (up 49.4% YOY)
Key financial highlights for the year ended March 31, 2021:
- Billing at Rs 385 crores ($52.5M) (up 4.4%)
- Revenue at Rs 377.8 crores ($51.5M) (up 1.6%)
- Profit After Tax (PAT) at Rs 40.8 crores ($5.6M) (up 38%)
by Mahender Bansal
See full article at NewsPatrolling
The Emergence Of Sugar Baby/Daddy Culture in India
ED TIMES – May 11 – The emerging trend of sugar babies and sugar daddies/mommies has achieved popularity amongst the unemployed youth of India. ~5M people lost their jobs in July 2020 alone and the number for the entire year is far greater. Some turned towards Seeking Arrangement. With ~22M users globally, the website is spilling its operations in India with ~75K members. In 2019-20, the percentage of new users rose by 159% and a 39% spike in membership was seen during the lockdown period. Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad top the list in the number of maximum Indian users.
Many Influencers in India Shy Away From Associating With a Brand Focusing on LGBTQ
BUZZ IN CONTENT – May 7 – BuzzInContent caught with Sanyam Sharma, Marketing Director, Blued India, the world's largest gay dating social media app, to discuss how content is helping the brand break stereotypes and normalise conversations around the LGBTQ community in India. Launched in 2012, Blued, the world's largest gay dating social media app. Sharma said it becomes quite challenging to associate with key opinion leaders and influencers for various campaigns as they shy away collaborating with brands that primarily focus on the LGBTQ space. The app believes radio has a huge potential to reach out to deeper pockets in India. Marketing budget is no bar for the brand. "If it is reaching out to a newer audience, creating more brand awareness and generating goodwill, we at Blued are always happy to spend more," concluded Sharma.