OKCUPID BLOG – Fifty years ago, on January 22nd, 1973, the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade. But in June of last year, that landmark decision was overturned, bringing the topic of women's rights back to the forefront. An overwhelming majority of women on OkCupid (87%) are pro-choice. 49% of women on OkCupid say that a difference in opinion about abortion would make them think twice about dating someone.
Category: OkCupid
Hong Kong Watchdog Takes Swipe at Tinder’s Age Based Fees
THE STANDARD – The Consumer Council claims Tinder has an "unfair" pricing mechanism that charges users an annual subscription according to age. The council registered accounts for users aged 18 to 68 with intervals of 10 years. The highest fees are for 38-year-olds, followed by for 18-year-olds and 58-year-olds. The cheapest are for those whose ages are 28, 48 and 68. The app charges 38-year-old platinum account holders HK$1,318 annually, which is 42% higher than users from the lowest-priced group. The watchdog urged Tinder to make rectifications. The council also found dating apps reveal users' personal information for marketing and advertising after a trial of nine popular ones in Hong Kong between October and December. The nine tested were Bumble, Coffee Meets Bagel, Goodnight, Heymandi, OkCupid, Omi, Paktor, SweetRing and Tinder. All were found to have preset permission to use account owners' data, including name, gender, sexual orientation, date of birth, location, e-mail address and phone number for marketing or advertising. Only three apps allowed users to opt-out. Age is not covered under Hong Kong's anti-discrimination laws, an Equal Opportunities Commission spokesman said.
by Eunice Lam
See full article at Teh Standard
Mark Brooks: Do you think Tinder, and nay, the industry at large, make rectifications? Is age-based pricing logical and justifiable, or just wholly unfair? Your comments, please.
OkCupid – the Global State of Digital Dating
OKCUPID BLOG – Being vulnerable is one of the more attractive traits to singles these days. 9 in 10 daters on OkCupid say they are sensitive. Men who say they are sensitive are receiving more likes and matches. Nearly all 1.6M respondents on OkCupid believe mental health is just as important as physical health. 97% of OkCupid respondents believe it's important to practice self-love. 30% (~8.5M singles) reveal they would be interested in an open relationship. 40% of people say that inflation is impacting their dating lives. The pandemic and rising costs of living accelerated the number of people being open to sober dates, but also sober relationships.
OkCupid’s Global Head of Comms on Using Data
RAGAN – Michael Kaye is the global head of communications at OkCupid. He shared some of his thoughts on data in storytelling. "For me, communication is just as much about strategy as it is about execution," Kaye said. "I like taking a hands-on approach. That includes how I think about data when it comes to telling the OkCupid story." One of the first things he did upon joining the comms team was sit down with the data and analytics team and learn how they work. Kaye urges communicators to remember that data can come in all forms, not just numbers. OkCupid obtains much of its data in the form of worded answers. When someone joins the platform, they answer a series of questions that matches them with potential dates based on the compatibility of the answers. Kaye's incorporation of data across all aspects of his comms strategy is a reminder that there's always a story within the data. 70% of OkCupid's earned media coverage in the U.S. included data points from in-app questions.
Tinder Turns 10: What Have We Learned From a Decade of Dating Apps?
THE GUARDIAN – A decade ago, online dating existed through sites such as match and OKCupid tended to attract older users, and had a stigma. Apps like Grindr (launched 2009), and Tinder (2012) radically changed online dating. Emily Witt, the author of Future Sex, a book that examines sex in the internet age, tells Nosheen Iqbal about the origin story of Tinder, meeting the founders, and why it was such an instant success. Dating apps have grown in response to a culture where people are single longer and a changing sexual morality that's open to different kinds of relationships.
by Nosheen Iqbal
See full article at The Guardian
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Soaring Prices Are Changing the Dating Game
BLOOMBERG – Surging prices are making it more expensive to wine and dine a love interest, causing daters to reassess their priorities. The consumer price index category for food away from home rose 7.7% YOY, while full-service restaurants climbed 8.9%. Among 3K users on Hinge, 41% said they were more concerned with the cost of dates now versus a year ago, with Gen Z respondents more likely to feel the pressure. "As a result, people are on the hunt for less expensive options," said Logan Ury, director of relationship science at Hinge.
OkCupid and Sweatcoin Data Shows Singles Are Prioritizing Health
Match Wants to Keep FTC Case Under Wraps
REUTERS – Match Group fights with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over the FTC's investigation of OKCupid which allegedly shared users' photos with Clarifai, a facial recognition company. The FTC investigation follows a 2019 New York Times article asserting that Clarifai built its database of faces with OkCupid user photos supplied by an OkCupid founder who was also a Clarifai investor. OkCupid and Match denied any commercial agreement with Clarifai, but in 2020, the FTC demanded documents from the companies about the alleged deal. After more than a year of battling, the FTC filed its petition, asking the court to order Match to turn over 136 disputed documents. Match responded a few days later with an emergency motion to seal everything. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon denied Match's motion to seal the entire docket but allowed Match's filings to remain under wraps temporarily. Match's lawyers appear to have renewed their push to litigate in secret in a sealed June 21 motion.
How OKCupid Is Using Its App and Its Ads to Fight for Abortion Rights
DIGIDAY – The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn its landmark ruling on Roe vs. Wade has companies working through navigating how to address abortion rights, but OKCupid is already centering its marketing strategy around the topic. OKCupid sent in-app notifications to all U.S. users encouraging them to donate to Planned Parenthood. It also plans on supporting the organization's corporate day of action on July 13 by shutting down the app for several hours and encouraging users to join a "virtual walk-out." OKCupid first began partnering with Planned Parenthood in 2017 by creating a profile badge for users who want to show their support to the organization.
OkCupid: Culture of Inclusion Is Key to Innovation
BUSINESS INSIDER – OkCupid has offered more options for LGBTQ communities years before other dating apps. Marcus Lofthouse, its chief product officer, explains how he fosters inclusive innovation. The key is to foster safe spaces for employees and work with people from diverse backgrounds. "We have a historical legacy of being open," Lofthouse said. "We set the pace on things like LGBTQIA+ products and offerings. Other apps look to us."