TECH CRUNCH – Hinge has updated its moderation policy to be less punitive. Instead of banning entire accounts for a single violation, the platform will now flag the specific issue, hide the profile from discovery until it’s corrected, and notify the user with clear instructions. Accounts with repeated or severe violations will still face permanent bans.
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HINGE – Hinge has launched in Mexico, its first market in Latin America, after growth in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Founded in 2012 by Justin McLeod, the app positions itself around getting people to real-life dates and says users set up a date every two seconds in existing markets. The Mexico rollout includes Spanish support and the company’s standard safety and inclusion policies.
See full article at Hinge website
REUTERS – On Sept 24, US senators Maggie Hassan and Marsha Blackburn sent Match Group a letter demanding, by Oct 15, details on how Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid detect and prevent romance scams. They warn that the apps’ design can create a false sense of trust that scammers exploit, citing the FBI’s $16 billion in global cybercrime losses last year, including significant losses from romance scams. The letter references Match’s past FTC case and asks for concrete anti-fraud measures as the company introduces new AI-driven features.
See full article at Reuters
FAST COMPANY – At Fast Company’s Innovation Festival, Hinge CEO Justin McLeod said Hinge’s Q2 growth, revenue up 25% YoY and paying users up 18%, stems from three principles: keep the free experience strong (charge only for scarce, optional perks like Roses/Boosts), build for underserved users (e.g., Match Note for LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, single parents, people with STIs), and use AI where it’s useful (Prompt Feedback for better profiles, photo selection help, and “Are you sure?” checks before sending risky messages). He contrasted this with rivals’ declines (Bumble paying users −8.7% and revenue −7.6%; Tinder down 1.2M paid since early 2024, with Q2 2025 revenue −4.6%). Longer term, he expects AI to deliver highly personalized matches that reduce swiping.
See full article at Fast Company
BUSINESS INSIDER – Hinge CEO Justin McLeod predicts AI will replace swiping within the next three to five years by helping users express values and preferences directly, leading to more accurate matches. He says this shift will combat swiping fatigue and help users move faster toward real-life connections. Hinge continues to outperform rivals: paying users rose 18% YOY to 1.7M, revenue per user grew 6% to $32, and Q2 revenue reached $168M, up 25%. McLeod insists AI should never replace genuine human interaction. While AI can improve matchmaking, he rejects the idea of chatbots mimicking intimacy, calling that approach “extraordinarily reductive.”
See full article at Business Insider
LSJ ONLINE – Attacks and scams on dating apps have surged, with Australia seeing reports more than double in the past year. Courts have sentenced offenders ranging from adult gangs to teenagers exploiting the platform. Grindr has issued in-app safety alerts and cooperates with law enforcement, but critics argue that warnings aren’t enough. Australia’s new Online Dating Code, signed by major apps including Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr, requires safety measures, transparency reports, and stronger user protections. Still, legal experts stress that apps face growing expectations to go beyond alerts, with calls for identity verification, real-time cooperation with police, and proactive safeguards to stop predators before harm occurs.
See full article at LSJ Online
INVESTING – At the Goldman Sachs conference, Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff laid out a turnaround strategy centered on product innovation and efficiency. Tinder is being restructured with new leadership and small, agile teams to win back Gen Z users, while Hinge continues its international push with a goal of reaching $1 billion in revenue by 2027. AI already plays a central role, from improving matching algorithms to helping users create better profiles and chats, and it’s also boosting internal productivity. Match is balancing reinvestment in growth with a commitment to return 100% of free cash flow to shareholders. With 250M singles worldwide still not on dating apps, the company sees plenty of room to grow, even as it works to re-establish Tinder’s appeal and maintain Hinge’s momentum.
BUSINESS OF APPS – The global dating app market generated ~$6B in 2024, according to the Dating App Report 2025 by Business of Apps. North America drove half of all revenues, with Europe contributing 23%. Tinder remained the top earner, accounting for 30% of global revenue, while Hinge brought in $550M, up 38% YOY. Although downloads have declined since 2019, revenue growth continues, fueled by higher subscription prices and new payment models. The market is projected to reach $8.9B by 2030 at a 6.2% annual growth rate.
See full article at Business of Apps
Curated by the Courtland Brooks team
FAST COMPANY – Hinge CEO Justin McLeod says the app facilitates millions of in-person dates each month and is focused on reducing digital fatigue among young people, who are spending less time together and reporting higher rates of loneliness. The company's partnership with Esther Perel introduced "Your World" prompts to help users spark conversations that lead offline. Looking ahead, McLeod sees AI as central to Hinge's evolution, enabling more personalized matching and guidance to help users create stronger profiles. He stresses that Hinge's strategy is not to follow competitors but to rely on user research and experimentation to stay ahead.
See full article at Fast Company
Curated by the Courtland Brooks team
BUSINESS INSIDER – Hinge is using AI to improve matches and profiles, but rejects chatbot companionship. “I don’t think that an AI chatbot should be your friend or certainly not your boyfriend or girlfriend,” CEO Justin McLeod said on the “Rapid Response” podcast. In contrast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued earlier this year that digital chatbots could help address America’s “loneliness epidemic.” Hinge’s AI tools suggest ways for users to add detail to prompts and encourage in-person meetings. Owned by Match Group, Hinge reported 1.7M paying users (up 18% YOY) and $168M in Q2 2025 revenue (up 25%).
See full article at Business Insider
Curated by the Courtland Brooks team