BUSINESS INSIDER – Michelle Parsons, a former Hinge executive and co-founder of queer social app Lex, has launched Lora, a social astrology app backed by pre-seed investor AlleyCorp. Its AI chatbot uses birth charts to offer advice on relationships and personal development, while users can also book human astrologers, tarot readers, and coaches. Parsons said the aim is to help users recognise patterns in their lives rather than simply give them the answers they want to hear.
HINGE – Hinge says technology has created more digital interaction without making people feel closer, a problem it calls the “closeness crisis.” The company is holding its first Heads Up conference to bring together researchers, founders, and community groups to discuss healthier technology. Hinge argues that products should be measured by real-world outcomes rather than screen time.
FAST COMPANY – Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff discussed the company’s turnaround plans in an interview with Fast Company. He said Match’s brands previously managed their own advertising, but the company has now brought those teams together. A single team manages ~$600M in annual ad spending across ~20+ brands. Match is also combining parts of the technology used by its apps, making it easier to introduce the same features across several products. Rascoff said ~60% of Tinder and Hinge users are under 28. Tinder is trying to appeal to these users with Double Date, group matching and in-person events. Double Date is used by ~25% of Gen Z users in the US and close to 50% in some European markets. Match has also adjusted its recommendation systems to prioritise conversations with at least six exchanges, which it calls “sparks.” Rascoff said AI can help with safety, matching and communication advice, but should not write messages or speak on behalf of users.
FORBES – Hinge CEO Jackie Jantos and CMO Tamika Young appeared on the FROM THE CULTURE podcast to discuss how the company’s focus on long-term relationships affects its products, hiring, and use of data. They highlighted Match Note, a private message developed with TransTech Social that lets users share personal details or dealbreakers after matching. Hinge also measures success by whether users go on dates and eventually leave the app, rather than how long they remain active.
MASHABLE – Hinge has released its first audiobook as part of its No Ordinary Love campaign. Five authors wrote and narrated stories about real couples who met on Hinge, with the couples adding their own epilogues. The audiobook is available on Spotify, Apple Audiobooks, Libro.fm, Libby, Barnes & Noble Audiobooks, and Substack. Written versions are also available on Substack.
MATCH GROUP – Match Group reported signs of recovery at Tinder in Q2, with daily active user declines narrowing to 4%, the best result in ten quarters. Hinge revenue grew 22%, while users increased 13%, supported by expansion into ten new countries; the company still expects Hinge to reach $1B in annual revenue in 2027. Match Group’s total revenue slipped 1% to $853M as payer numbers fell 6%, but net income rose 36% to $171M through lower operating costs.
WALL STREET JOURNAL – New AI dating apps are offering alternatives to swiping. Amata, a chatbot-based matchmaking app, interviews users and charges about $20 to arrange a date, while Known, an AI matchmaking service supported by human matchmakers, recommends compatible partners. Volar, a now-closed AI dating app, previously tested virtual versions of users that went on simulated dates for them. Established platforms are also experimenting with AI: Grindr is developing its gAI assistant, Bumble is testing its Bee matchmaker, and Tinder and Hinge are introducing tools that help users improve profiles and start conversations.
LAUREN SHARP – Eliza was a simple chatbot created in the 1960s to imitate a therapist. Although it understood nothing, users shared private information and believed it empathised with them. Its creator, Joseph Weizenbaum, warned that people could easily mistake a computer’s responses for genuine intelligence. This became known as the ELIZA effect. Today’s AI is far more convincing. Replika users reported distress when intimate features were removed, while some users viewed GPT-4o as a friend or romantic partner. Dating-app users may be especially vulnerable. An AI matchmaker could comfort them after rejection, remember personal conversations, and provide unlimited attention. Some users may eventually feel closer to the AI than to the people it recommends. AI may still help lonely or socially anxious users. However, agreeable chatbots could also create unrealistic expectations of human relationships, which involve disagreement and compromise. Bumble is testing Bee, an AI matchmaker that learns about users and recommends partners. Tinder’s Chemistry feature asks personal questions and analyses photos, while Learning Mode adjusts recommendations based on behaviour. Overtone, founded by Hinge founder Justin McLeod, uses voice conversations to select a small number of introductions.
BARRON’S – Investors are looking for progress in Match Group’s Tinder turnaround as the app generates more than half of the company’s revenue. In 2025, Tinder’s monthly active users fell 9% and paying users declined 7%, while Hinge recorded growth of ~50% and 18%, respectively. Match Group is applying lessons from Hinge and introducing new Tinder features, events and AI tools aimed at Gen Z. Tinder’s user decline slowed to 7% in March, while first-quarter revenue grew 2% YOY. Match Group’s Q2 earnings will be released tomorrow, Tuesday, August 4.
IT’S NICE THAT – Hinge CEO Jackie Jantos said the dating app is adapting its products to the changing needs of Gen Z, which now represents more than half of its users. Hinge follows a “designing with, not for” approach, involving people with different lived experiences in product development. One result is Match Note, a private, non-screenshotable screen where users can disclose personal information, such as having ADHD, before beginning a conversation. Jantos, who moved from CMO to CEO in late 2025, said Hinge’s “Designed to Be Deleted” positioning also guides product decisions, including detailed onboarding and limits on simultaneous conversations, with the goal of moving users from the app to in-person dates.