Category: Hinge

Dating Apps Under Fire: Safety Warnings Aren’t Enough

Posted on September 16, 2025
Dating Apps Under Fire: Safety Warnings Aren't Enough

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

Match Group’s Turnaround: Innovation, AI, and Global Growth

Posted on September 12, 2025
A smartphone displaying the Match Group logo on a desk next to a laptop and a notepad. In the background, a plant is visible.

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.

See full article at Investing

Global Dating App Revenues Hit $6B in 2024, Set to Reach $8.9B by 2030

Posted on August 27, 2025

Dating app revenue forecastBUSINESS 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

Hinge CEO Justin McLeod on AI, Loneliness, and the Push for Real-Life Connections

Posted on August 25, 2025

HingeFAST 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

Hinge CEO: AI Should Help Dating, Not Replace Relationships

Posted on August 21, 2025
A man with a beard wears a gray hoodie and speaks into a microphone during an event, with a colorful abstract background.

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

 

Hinge Extends “It’s Funny We Met on Hinge” Campaign

Posted on August 18, 2025

ADWEEK – Hinge has rolled out the second part of its "It's Funny We Met on Hinge" campaign, featuring couples who first met offline but only connected through the app, underscoring its pitch as a relationship-focused platform. The push comes as many users abandon dating apps due to "swipe fatigue," with surveys showing millennials turning back to in-person connections. Yet Hinge is bucking the trend: in Q2 it reported $168M in revenue, up 25% YOY, and 1.7M paying users, up 18%.

See full article at AdWeek

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Shareholder Sues Match Group Over Alleged Safety Failures on Tinder and Hinge

Posted on August 11, 2025

Match Group for social mediaFORTUNE – Match Group is facing a shareholder lawsuit alleging its leadership failed to act on long-standing safety issues on Tinder and Hinge, allowing some users accused of sexual assault to remain active for months or years. The suit cites a Pulitzer Center investigation claiming Match has tracked reports of rape and assault across its apps since at least 2016 through a system called Sentinel, yet some offenders evaded removal. One cited case involved cardiologist Stephen Matthews, who was reported in 2020 but stayed on the platforms until his 2023 arrest. The lawsuit, filed ahead of strong earnings in which Match reported rising revenue and user growth, accuses executives and board members of breaches of fiduciary duty, securities violations, and inadequate risk oversight. It seeks corporate governance reforms, restitution of executive pay, and damages payable to the company. Match says it combats violence, removes violators, and invests in safety measures, but has yet to release a promised public safety report.

See full article at Fortune

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Match Flat at $864M for Q2, Tinder Redesign Adds Dating Modes

Posted on August 7, 2025
Three smartphone screens displaying the Tinder app. The left screen showcases a 'Double Date' feature, inviting friends to join. The middle screen features profiles of two users, Jace and Danny, with profile pictures and interests. The right screen shows a chat interface with messages exchanged between the matched users.

TECH CRUNCH – CEO Spencer Rascoff said Tinder will debut “modes,” which will allow users to switch between different dating goals. A broader redesign will include features aimed at college students. Another new feature allows users to like specific parts of a profile and start conversations based on those likes, similar to Hinge. Q2 revenue was flat at $864M and earnings declined from $133M year-over-year to $122M. A better-than-expected Q3 outlook forecast revenue of $910-920M. Match will invest $50M in product development and experiment with AI matching on Tinder, which it debuted in New Zealand earlier this year with matches based on info from profiles and insights from camera roll photos. Tinder’s Double Date option, launched in June, lets users pair up with a friend to match with another couple.

See full article at Tech Crunch

Mark Brooks: The $50M in AI product development is the real news here. Match has the pockets to really deliver on AI-based disruption and meaningful product improvements.

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Match Group Q2 2025 Highlights: Tinder Transformation and Hinge Growth

Posted on August 6, 2025

Match GroupPRESS RELEASE Match Group reported Q2 2025 revenue of $864M, flat year-over-year, with a 5% decline in payers to 14.1M. Operating income was $194M, down 5% YOY, impacted by restructuring costs.

Tinder Updates:

  • Double Date launched globally in June, six months ahead of schedule, with 92% of users under 30.
  • Focused on solving Gen Z pain points: authenticity, dating fatigue, and better outcomes.

New features:

  • Redesigned Recommendations engine
  • Interactive Matching ("AI-enabled Discovery")
  • Upcoming: Modes navigation (goal-based discovery) and Contextual Liking (react to profile content).

Trust and safety improvements:

  • Expanded Face Check
  • Enhanced Bot Detection

Tinder Financials:

  • Direct Revenue: $461M (down 4% YOY)
  • Payers: 9.0M (down 7%)
  • Revenue Per Payer (RPP): $17.14 (up 3%)

Hinge Financials:

  • Direct Revenue: $168M (up 25% YOY)
  • Payers: 1.7M (up 18%)
  • RPP: $31.96 (up 6%)

Match Group continues executing its three-phase transformation plan: Reset – Rebuilding structure and culture, Revitalize – Accelerating product development, and Resurgence – Driving long-term category growth.

See full article at Match Group website

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Single Women Are Using Hinge to Get Their Furniture Built by Matches

Posted on August 6, 2025
Conversation in a dating app chat where one user expresses interest in finding help to assemble shelves in their new apartment, while the other user responds positively, showing enthusiasm for building things.

NY POST – Some single women are using Hinge to find more than just love – they’re seeking help with furniture assembly. A growing trend, especially on TikTok, shows women inviting matches over to build beds, hang shelves, or mount TVs, turning first dates into low-pressure, DIY-style meetups. Many say it helps create instant chemistry and mimics real-life couple dynamics. The approach often leads to more genuine conversations and has even outperformed flirty one-liners in generating matches. While some experts applaud the creativity, they also warn about safety and potential exploitation if expectations aren’t clear.

See full article at NY Post

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team