Category: Outlets – Tech Crunch
Video Is Fueling the Newest Group of Dating App Startups
TECH CRUNCH – TechCrunch looked at three new video-based dating startups that are using video to connect people in advance of their real-world dates.
Candid
Launched on February 14 to offer users a new TikTok-style dating app with video profiles to show off their personality. The 45-second videos are recorded in-app, so potential matches know the video was recently taken and is authentic.
Ditto
Formerly known as Iso Date, Ditto is the startup's new video speed dating app where users can have 3-minute speed dating sessions via live video chat. The sessions occur every Tuesday from 8 -9 p.m. ET. Ditto is currently available to New York users only.
IRLY
Another video chat-based dating app, IRLY (I Really Like You), is launching on Feb 28. Catering to Gen Z, IRLY lets users video chat with a potential match and play in-app games like "Truth or Dare," "Would You Rather" and more. IRLY was founded in 2021 by Canada-based university students Connor Rose and Laura Rollock. Social media influencer Cameron Dallas joined as a co-founder in Nov 2022.
Tawkify Acquires S’More
TECH CRUNCH – Matchmaking service provider Tawkify has acquired S'More, an "anti-superficial" dating app that had experimented with blurred profile photos and blurred video chats in an attempt to get people to get to know one another without the focus on physical appearance. With the acquisition, S'More is sunsetting its app, and founder Adam Cohen Aslatei will instead join the Tawkify team to lead the launch of its first-ever mobile product. Deal terms were not disclosed, but S'More had raised $3.2M in seed funding, according to Crunchbase. Set to launch in mid-2023, Tawkify's new app will offer users access to its matchmaking service, new relationship wellness services, as well as "multimedia features, sharable and exclusive content," said Cohen Aslatei. As of the time of the acquisition, S'More claimed to have ~450K users.
by Lauren Forristal
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Tinder Rolls out New Safety Features, Including an Incognito Mode
TECH CRUNCH – One of the new features is called "Incognito Mode" and is a step up from fully hiding your profile. Members can still swipe, but only those whom they've Liked will see them in their recommendations. The feature is designed to allow users to control who sees them while scrolling through profiles on Tinder. Incognito Mode is a premium feature available for Tinder+, Gold and Premium members. Tinder is also launching a new "Block Profile" feature that allows users to choose who they want to see on Tinder. In addition, Tinder is making it easier for users to report bad behavior by introducing "Long Press Reporting", which lets people tap and hold offensive messages, launching the reporting flow directly in the chat. Last, Tinder is updating its "Does This Bother you?" and "Are You Sure" prompts to include more language that it classifies as harmful.
‘Keep Lex Filthy’: Users React to Queer Dating App’s New Direction
TECH CRUNCH – Lex, the hookup and social app that launched in 2019 with a nod to lesbian personal ads from the '80s, wants to change the look and direction. Come users fear that Lex will scrub away its beloved raunchy essence. The text-based service grew over the past few years into a queer community – a place for women, trans, genderqueer and nonbinary people to announce meetups, find concert tickets, share poetry, crack in-jokes or simply cruise. Lex publicized its redesign on January 26, emphasizing its role in helping people find "LGBTQ+ friends & queer community." A press release laid out the app's evolution "from a dating app to a vibrant social platform," while an Instagram post from the company highlighted a shift from personal ads toward group chats and meetups.
Executive Shake-Up at Match Group
TECH CRUNCH – Match Group is bringing on former VP of Product at Snap Will Wu as its new CTO in a newly created role. Wu will oversee product innovation across Match's portfolio of apps. Match says Wu will now work directly with its executives to launch new features, emerging technologies, and innovative products. Gary Swidler, who was previously the COO and CFO of Match, will become the president and CFO of the Group. In addition, Malgosia Green, who was previously CEO of Plenty of Fish, will become CEO of Match Group Asia. Hesam Hosseini, the CEO of Match and Affinity brands, will become CEO of Evergreen & Emerging Brands. In this position, Hosseini will oversee Match, Meetic, Plenty of Fish and OkCupid, in addition to emerging brands such as The League, BLK and Chispa. Last, Justin McLeod, the founder & CEO of Hinge, will now report directly to Kim.
Netflix Teams up With Bumble so Users Can Bond Over TV Shows
TECH CRUNCH – Bumble is launching a weekly in-app Netflix-themed question game called "Netflix Nights In" that asks users questions about a popular Netflix show. Users can play against their match to see who can answer all the questions correctly. According to a recent Bumble survey, 78% of users think it's easier to talk to matches when they have similar TV and movie tastes. 72% of the survey respondents said they've talked about TV shows and movies on a date. "Netflix Nights In" will start on January 30 and ends on March 13. The question game is available to Bumble users in the US, Canada, and the UK.
Epic and Match’s Antitrust Case Against Google Heads to Jury Trial
TECH CRUNCH – A date has been set for a trial by jury in a significant antitrust case against Google involving its alleged abuses of power in the Android app market. Fortnite maker Epic Games and Match Group have accused Google of unfairly leveraging its market dominance and harming competition through its Google Play Store terms and practices. The case will now proceed to a jury trial on Nov 6, 2023. Epic Games sued Apple and Google in 2020 when it introduced a direct payment option in Fortnite to its iOS and Android apps, prompting Apple and Google to boot the mobile game from their app stores. Match Group had also sued Google over its Play Store practices, accusing Google of charging developers "exorbitant fees." Google shot back, saying Match just wants to get out of paying for the services it provides the company as part of its platform.
The App Economy Slowed for the First Time in 2022
TECH CRUNCH – An annual review by data.ai (previously App Annie) found that consumer spending on mobile apps declined for the first time in 2022 after seeing 19% YOY growth the year prior. The report said that consumer spending dropped by 2% in 2022, reaching $167B. Meanwhile, downloads grew by 11% YOY to 255B. Non-game apps have proven to be more resilient in a down economy, data.ai found. In 2022, spending on games dropped 5% to $110B, while spending on non-game apps increased 6% to $58B, driven by streaming subscriptions, dating apps, and short-form video apps. Video and dating apps continue to pull in the most revenue, with Tinder and Disney+ still highly ranked, behind TikTok.
Match Group to Offer in-app Tips on Avoiding Scams
TECH CRUNCH – Match Group is introducing in-app messages and email notifications to give users tips on preventing being scammed online throughout January. But Match said it would continue pushing these messages to users periodically. The in-app messages will include tips, common behaviors to watch out for, and suggestions such as ensuring matches have their profile picture verified, video chatting with them before meeting in person, and learning to recognize scammer red flags. In 2021, FTC reported that consumers lost $547M. The average reported loss in the U.S. was $186K in 2022, up from $121K in 2021.