REPUBLIC WORLD – Oct 6 – Tinder was the most downloaded app in the online dating category during September 2019, according to research firm Sensor Tower. Tinder had close to 5.5M installs in September, resulting in a total of 4% increase from the same period last year. Badoo was the second most installed dating app worldwide. Tantan, MeetMe, and Happn rounded out the top five most installed dating apps worldwide for the month. Here is the full list of top 10 dating apps.
Category: Bumble
Top Grossing Dating Apps Worldwide for August 2019
SENSORTOWER – Sep 24 – The top grossing dating app worldwide for August 2019 was Tinder with $79.9M in user spending, which represented 7% growth from August 2018, according to Sensor Tower. 43% of Tinder's revenue was from the US, followed by 7% from UK and 6% from Brazil. Bumble was the second highest earning dating app worldwide in August 2019 with ~$20M in gross revenue, which represented 55% YOY growth. ~80% of Bumble's revenue was from the U.S., followed by 7% from UK.
Texas Outlawed Unsolicited Nude Pictures
NEWS4SA – Sep 21 – 40% of millennial women in the U.S. have reported receiving an unsolicited nude picture, according to a YouGov study. Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas, filed House Bill 2789. It took effect September 1, 2019 after Governor Greg Abbott signed it into effect. The law makes sending a nude photo without the recipient's consent a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500. Bumble helped push for the law. However, not everyone seems on board with the new law. Attorney Don Flanary says the way HB 2789 is written broad and violates the First Amendment, because it specifically bans the "unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material." Flanary says something "sexually explicit" isn't necessarily considered "obscene". "Obscenity" is not protected by the First Amendment. He says "obscenity" is what's missing from the law's wording. For example, images of breastfeeding on social media could now be considered illegal. Texting a picture of your body to your doctor for medical reasons could be as well.
Why Tinder Beats Bumble
E27 – Sep 17 – Bumble launch was a powerful social statement globally, where it sent off a strong message about women empowerment, encouraging women to make bolder choices in not just dating, but in business and life. A lot of celebrities has been supporting the app, including support of the app, including Kris Jenner, Priyanka Chopra and Karlie Kloss. So why did Tinder still manage to retain itself as the crowd favourite? Tinder is much easier and quicker to sign up and get going. Bumble asks users to answer a series of questions and build a more detailed profile, which can sometimes feel like a matrimonial page. The sexist nature of the app, which only allows women to pick who they want to speak with can potentially carve down the entire niche of the market, making it more attractive to women. Male users can sometimes feel alienated by this system.
Bumble Launches Pitch Competition for Women-Founded Businesses in Asia Pacific Region
Bumble’s Success in India
INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE – Sep 15 – Bumble has attracted 1.7M Indian users within 10 months of its launch in the country. Since its launch, women in India have made the first move over 3 million times.
Bumble CEO: Facebook Jumping Into the Dating Scene Is Validating
CNBC – Sep 11 – Bumble is an app that matches users with potential love interests as well as platonic friends and professional connections. Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder and CEO of Bumble, joins "Squawk Box" to discuss the online dating space and the launch of Facebook Dating in the U.S.
Inside Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd’s Mission to Build the “Female Internet”
FAST COMPANY – Sep 8 – Whitney Wolfe Herd wants to "change thousands of years of behavior" between men and women. "We're not one of our competitors that's just trying to hook people up," she says. Bumble claims ~66M users in 150 countries and reportedly anticipates $300M in 2019 revenue. There are rumors that it is eyeing an IPO or accepting a significant capital infusion from a private-equity firm. Bumble's culture is reinforced by the many friends and former sorority sisters that Wolfe Herd recruited to the company, including head of brand Alex Williamson, VP of marketing Chelsea Cain Maclin, chief creative marketing officer Samantha Fulgham, and chief of staff Caroline Ellis Roche. In late 2017, the Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra was sitting next to Wolfe Herd at the launch party for Bumble Bizz. After listening to Wolfe Herd speak, Chopra approached her to say: India needs this. Bumble also needs India (and other international markets), where the opportunity for growth is enormous. So far, Bumble is gaining traction in India – more than a million people signed up in the first four months – but it's still hitting barriers. The solution may be to lean more heavily on Bizz, as well as BFF.
Q&A With Bumble CEO About Making Sending Unsolicited Nude Photos Illegal
REFINERY29 – Aug 29 – On Sep 1, House Bill 2789, which criminalizes the sending of unsolicited sexual photos via text, DM, AirDrop, email, social media, and dating apps in the state of Texas (where dating app Bumble is based), will become law, in large part due Bumble CEO's efforts.
Q: As the founder and CEO of Bumble, why was it important for you to get involved in the passing of this bill?
Whitney Wolfe Herd: When unwanted sexual photos are sent through Bumble, we ban those users right away, but that's not enough. I hated that there was no real accountability outside of our app. So about a year ago, my team and I started working with lobbyists and passionate state representatives. We wanted to make unsolicited lewd photos illegal.
Q: What responsibility do dating apps and users have to protect against digital sexual harassment?
A: We're calling our peers – social networks, messaging apps, and Internet companies of all kinds – to raise their standards. You can still drive massive profit and be a good business model while pushing the needle on safety and privacy for users. And if you're on the receiving end of an unsolicited lewd photo on any platform: report it.
Q: With the new law, what remains to be done?
A: Bumble will continue to fight for new laws that not only protect our users, but the digital space as a whole. We're committed to creating a kinder, safer internet.
Bumble to Host Singles Party
