BBC – In the 1960s, computer dating services like Tact and Operation Match introduced algorithm-based matchmaking. Tact, launched in 1965, matched users based on questionnaires for $5 per match but struggled with slow processing and mismatches, even pairing siblings. Despite their short lifespan, these services pioneered tech-driven dating, shaping today’s online matchmaking industry.
BBC – Nearly half of UK adults report feeling lonely at times, and 62% of young people say loneliness lowers their confidence, according to the Campaign to End Loneliness and Co-Op Foundation. Apps like Bumble BFF and Meetup are becoming popular as young people seek friendships online. Professor Andrea Wigfield, director of the Centre for Loneliness Studies at the University of Sheffield, predicts that these apps could soon be as common as dating apps, helping people build meaningful connections in the same way.
BBC – Colleen McClain, a Senior Researcher at Pew Research Center, and Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder and CEO of Matrimony.com, were part of a special edition of BBC's global TV business program, Talking Business. The show explored trends in dating and online dating worldwide. While the UK and US are experiencing a shift from digital to in-person dating, the show delved into how this trend is evolving in India.
BBC – Dan – which stands for Do Anything Now – is a "jailbreak" version of ChatGPT. It can bypass some of the basic safeguards put in place by its maker, OpenAI, such as not using sexually explicit language. And Dan is becoming popular with some Chinese women who say they are disappointed with their real-world dating experiences. Dan's creator has been identified by some media outlets as an American student, identified only by his first name, Walker. Many Chinese women have been intrigued by Dan. As of 10 June, the hashtag "Dan mode" has been viewed ~40M times on Xiaohongshu alone. Glow – a Shanghai-based app that allows users to create and interact with AI boyfriends has millions of users.
BBC – Jamie Johnston founded Mattr, a dating app for people with ADHD and autism, after feeling addicted to the stimuli and dopamine from traditional dating apps. Launched a year ago, Mattr has 1,200 active users, mostly in east London. Johnston wanted to create a space where neurodivergent individuals feel comfortable and not judged. The app includes features like sharing neurodiversity details, daily mental health check-ins, limited matches, and verified profiles. A survey showed 94% of neurodivergent respondents felt misunderstood by other dating apps. Users appreciate the app's focus on authenticity and understanding, which helps ease anxiety and fosters genuine connections.
BBC – Grindr is facing a lawsuit in the UK High Court for allegedly sharing sensitive user information, including HIV status, with third parties without consent. The claim involves ~650 claimants who may receive significant damages if successful. Grindr has been accused of using "covert tracking technology" to illegally provide advertisers with highly personal data, such as ethnicity and sexual orientation, primarily before Apr 2018. The company has responded, stating the allegations misrepresent past practices discontinued over four years ago and maintains it takes user privacy seriously. This legal action follows a 2021 GDPR fine by Norwegian authorities and a reprimand by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office for insufficient privacy protections.
by Tom Singleton & Imran Rahman-Jones
See full article at BBC
