Category: Blendr

Social Networking Apps Bring The Close Closer

Posted on November 25, 2011

Girl with cellSYDNEY MORNING HERALD – Nov 25 – Blendr enables users to check their smartphones and then text other users a few metres away. If they hit it off, they can meet up for a date within minutes. Blendr is the heterosexual version of Grindr, which has more than 2M gay users in 192 countries. Joel Simkhai, who founded Grindr and Blendr, says the main difference between the two apps is that the straight version is less focused on casual sex. Other geosocial networking apps, such as OkCupid Locals and HowAboutWe are popular.

by Rachel Wells
See full article at Sydney Morning Herald

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Instant Date With An App

Posted on November 3, 2011

Dating1-articleLargeNY TIMES – Nov 3 - The idea of meeting someone through a mobile app may seem like a risky proposition. But the operators of these services say they are aware of the potential pitfalls and allow users to control how much information they divulge. Some of the apps are stand-alone, while others are new features of established dating sites; including Blendr, OkCupid Locals and HowAboutWe. OkCupid Locals is part of OkCupid, a larger dating site, which says a tenth of its 2.5M active members use the location features in the mobile app. HowAboutWe began a little over a year ago as a site where people post suggestions for dates they would like to have.The trailblazer among these services is Grindr, which is geared toward gay men and has signed up 2.6M members. In late summer its creators released Blendr, aimed at a broader audience.

by Jenna Wortham
See full article at NY Times

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Grindr Is The Gay Foursquare

Posted on November 2, 2011
Grindr blendr logosIRISH TIMES – Nov 2 - Most social networks connect people in the virtual world but Grindr helps gay people meet for real. And now its founder is launching an app for the straight community too. Grindr is uncomplicated. Create a profile, upload a photo and see gay men in your area who have done the same. Blendr replaces sexuality as a commonality with categories of “interests” concerning everything from sport to religion. But there are also complexities in creating a safe environment in which heterosexual people can interact.

by Una Mullally
See full article at Irish Times

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This post also appears on SocialNetworkingWach.

Blendr Social App Raises Fears

Posted on October 3, 2011

Blendr logo BOSTON HERALD – Oct 3 – Blendr, a new location-based app, is raising concerns that it could be used to prey on teens. Blendr, which doesn’t bill itself as a dating app like Grindr, lets users know how close they are to others by relying on a smartphone’s GPS or Facebook’s location software. But child advocates aren’t viewing the new app as just a way to make friends and review places. When asked for its position, the company pointed to a 2010 statement: “As an added protection, we encourage parents to add Apple’s parental controls to their children’s iPod Touches, iPhones and iPads to help ensure that their children cannot access 17-and-over sites and apps. Grindr strongly condemns the inappropriate and criminal use of our service and actively cooperates with local authorities on any alleged illegal activity on our service.”

by Cameron Sperance
The full article was originally published at Boston Herald, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: LBS enabled idating is a double-edged sword. But ultimately, it will take off.

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Online Dating Inhibits Users From Gaining Social Skills

Posted on September 12, 2011

Blendr app picture THE DAILY ATHENAEUM – Sep 11 – More people are starting to tell their children that they met on Blendr or another dating site. Blendr is a location-based mobile network allowing users to connect to other users nearby. It allows them to choose who can see their profile and gives their approximate location. While the app is handy, it takes away from the thrill of meeting new people. Meeting new people also helps to develop social skills for the shy and unnaturally bold. When someone is shy, it does not help to sit behind a computer and interact with people they may never see. The only way to get past shyness is to interact with people and get comfortable with it.

by Danielle Faipler
The full article was originally published at The Daily Athenaeum, but is no longer available.

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Finding an Instant Date Nearby With Blendr

Posted on September 8, 2011

Blendr app picture NY TIMES – Sep 8 - There are online dating sites, and then location-based social sites like Foursquare. A new app called Blendr combines the two, letting users cut to the chase and find someone to meet nearby, right now. Users create a simple profile featuring a photo and a short description of themselves. The app then shows people nearby who have also used the app recently and share similar interests. The app’s creator, Joel Simkhai, is also the entrepreneur behind Grindr, a popular app that helps gay men locate others near them.

by Jenna Wortham
See full article at NY Times