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

Apple Pulls China’s Top Gay Dating Apps After Government Order

Posted on November 10, 2025
Apple logo

WIRED – Apple has removed China’s two biggest gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its App Store after an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s top internet regulator. The apps are still functional for existing users but cannot be newly downloaded. Most foreign LGBTQ+ apps, including Grindr, are already blocked in China. The move highlights growing pressure on China’s LGBTQ+ community, which has faced mounting censorship and organizational shutdowns under tighter government control. Blued, once boasting 49M users and later merged with Finka under BlueCity, was bought by Newborn Town in 2022 after delisting from Nasdaq. Its founder and many longtime employees have since left. The app’s international version, HeeSay, remains available and popular in South and Southeast Asia. It’s unclear if Blued and Finka’s removal is temporary or permanent.

See full article at Wired

39% of Single Indians Now View Marriage as Optional, Survey Finds

Posted on November 3, 2025
Logo of QuackQuack

NDTV – A survey by Indian dating app QuackQuack of ~10K users aged 22–35 found that 39% of singles above 28 from metro and suburban areas see marriage as optional rather than a life milestone. The findings reflect shifting attitudes toward love and commitment, with many prioritizing personal growth and emotional connection over traditional timelines. The study also found that 6 in 10 daters view being single as a period for self-development, and 23% said prolonged use of dating apps has made them more self-aware through exposure to different perspectives.

See full article at NDTV

Tinder Introduces Face Check in India to Tackle Fake Profiles and Scams

Posted on October 9, 2025
Tinder Face Check

NEWSBYTES – Tinder has launched Face Check in India, a feature that asks users to take a short video selfie to confirm their profile photos. Verified users receive a blue Photo Verified badge, helping reduce fake profiles and scams. Match Group’s trust and safety head Yoel Roth said the tool comes at a time when online authenticity is critical. Tinder’s own research shows half of Indian daters prefer meeting in public and over a third use video calls before meeting, highlighting that safety is now as important as chemistry.

See full article at NewsBytes

Japan Turns to AI Matchmaking to Tackle Falling Marriage Rates

Posted on September 18, 2025
Cards used for a matching party in Yamaguchi Prefecture

ASIA NEWS – Japanese municipalities are revamping matchmaking programs to attract Gen Z and address declining marriage rates. Events now use apps, AI-powered matching, and low-cost large gatherings, such as Tottori’s “Tottori model,” which achieved a 56% success rate and is spreading to other cities. As of 2023, 32 prefectures, including Tokyo, have adopted AI-based systems, with national subsidies for marriage support tripling since 2013. While many regions are expanding these efforts, some like Wakayama and Akitakata have ended programs, citing the rise of private apps or limited effectiveness.

See full article at Asia News

China’ Dating Crisis: WeChat, Virtual Boyfriends, and the Gender Imbalance Behind a Growing Industry

Posted on June 24, 2025

The Dating Game documentaryBBC – China faces a gender imbalance with 30M more men than women, making dating particularly difficult for working-class men. The Dating Game, a documentary by Violet Du Feng, follows three men attending a dating camp led by coach Hao, who helps them craft online profiles and approach women using WeChat, China's dominant messaging platform often used for dating. The film sheds light on the broader impact of the one-child policy and economic inequality on romantic prospects. It also explores a growing digital trend: virtual boyfriends and dating simulation games, now used by ~10M women in China. These apps provide emotionally responsive, idealized male partners without the time, cost, or stress of real-life relationships.

by Helen Bushby
See full article at BBC

Japan Pushes for Dating App Transparency Amid Rise in Marital Status Verifications

Posted on May 26, 2025

Tokyo Futari Story icon
UNSEEN JAPAN – In Japan, dating apps are becoming a popular way to meet partners, with 25.1% of couples now connecting online. As usage grows, so does the push for accountability, especially around relationship transparency. Some users have faced legal consequences for misrepresenting their marital status, prompting conversations about trust and safety in digital dating. Complaints related to deception have increased, and courts have begun awarding damages in such cases. In response, apps like Tapple now offer optional marital status verification using Japan's national ID system, while the government-backed Tokyo Futari Story app requires full verification. Public support is strong, with many users favoring measures that promote honesty and reduce the risk of abuse.

by Jay Allen
See full article at Unseen Japan

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40% of Married Indians Admit to ‘Digital Affairs’, Gleeden Finds

Posted on May 7, 2025
Gleeden logo

DECCAN CHRONICLE – According to new research by Gleeden, 40% of married Indians engage in “digital affairs”. While 65% view these as “harmless fun,” 72% of participants said they had no plans to leave their marriage. Men aged 30 – 45 and women aged 25 – 40 were the most active. Nearly half of users admitted to texting a digital partner daily, and 56% of women said they felt more “heard” online than in real life. Emotional neglect, boredom, and a lack of intimacy drive this behavior. Despite their own actions, 68% said they’d feel betrayed if their partner did the same.

See full article at Deccan Chronicle

See the top news on Gleeden

Australia Introduces Safety Code for Dating Apps to Strengthen User Protections

Posted on April 29, 2025

Scammers

THE GUARDIAN – Australia introduced a new voluntary code of conduct for dating apps on 1 April 2025 to improve user safety. The code requires platforms like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and others to strengthen their safety systems, enhance user reporting processes, cooperate more closely with law enforcement, and publish regular transparency reports. A new oversight body will monitor compliance and issue formal warnings or penalties if platforms fail to meet the standards. Although voluntary for now, the government has indicated that mandatory regulation could follow if safety outcomes do not improve.

by Catie McLeod & Alyx Gorman
See full article at The Guardian

New Survey by Dating App Gleeden Shows Married Indians Are Rethinking Monogamy

Posted on April 10, 2025
Logo of Gleeden

HER ZINDAGI – A 2024 survey by extramarital dating app Gleeden reveals that over half of married Indians are cheating or exploring non-monogamy, driven by emotional dissatisfaction, changing gender roles, and evolving expectations in urban India. Among respondents aged 25–35 in tier-one and tier-two cities, 50% believe monogamy is becoming irrelevant. The study found that 82% of female Gleeden users involved in affairs cited emotional neglect as a key reason, while 74% said they feel invisible or unheard in their marriages. Meanwhile, 48% believe it’s possible to love two people at once, and 46% think cheating doesn’t rule out love.

by Rupsha Bhadra
See full article at Her Zindagi

See the top news on Gleeden

Gleeden Sees Rapid Growth in India

Posted on February 3, 2025
Logo of Gleeden

INVESTING.COM – Gleeden, a French extramarital dating app, has grown to 3M users in India, making up 25% of its global user base. Women now account for 40% of Indian users, reflecting shifting attitudes toward relationships and non-monogamy. The platform gained traction after India’s 2018 decriminalization of adultery and saw a surge during COVID-19. Bangalore has the highest number of users. Gleeden is now expanding its focus beyond extramarital dating to include non-monogamous relationships, with 67% of Indians expressing interest in trying them. The company aims to add another million users by the end of 2025.

See full article at Investing.com

See the top news on Gleeden