TECH CRUNCH – World, a biometric ID company known for its eyeball-scanning Orb devices, is partnering with Match Group to verify Tinder users in Japan. Users will confirm their identity through World's system, which creates digital IDs based on biometric data.
Category: Outlets – Tech Crunch
Tinder Launches AI Game to Help You Practice Flirting
TECH CRUNCH – Tinder has introduced a new AI-powered game called The Game Game where users can practice flirting by talking to virtual characters. They’ll respond to fun, fake dating scenarios using their voice, and the AI will score their flirting skills and give tips to improve. The game is meant to be fun and light, not serious, and is available for a limited time to iPhone users in the U.S. It’s part of Tinder’s push to add more AI features as it looks for new ways to attract users.
Bumble Introduces ID Verification and Safety Feature
TECH CRUNCH – Bumble has introduced ID verification to boost user safety, allowing daters to authenticate their identity with a government-issued ID and earn a profile badge. Users can now filter matches based on verification status and request verification from potential dates. The feature is live in multiple countries, including the U.S., U.K., and India, with plans for further expansion. Alongside this, Bumble launched “Share Date” for users to share date details with friends, “Review Before You Send” to flag inappropriate messages before sending, and a new “Discover” page to match users by interests. The updates come as Bumble faces declining revenue and rising concerns over AI-generated fake profiles and romance scams.
Bumble Sunsets Acquired Apps, Fruitz and Official, to Cut Costs
TECH CRUNCH – Bumble is discontinuing its two acquired apps, the dating and relationship apps Fruitz and Official. The move was shared during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. As explained by CEO Lidiane Jones during the call, the choice to discontinue Fruitz, a French dating app, and Official, an app designed to help couples strengthen their relationships, allows the company to focus on its core businesses, Bumble and Badoo.
Tinder Turns to AI Matching Amid Declining Users and Revenue
TECH CRUNCH – Tinder is introducing AI-powered matching to counter declining user engagement and revenue. The new feature aims to provide personalized recommendations beyond traditional swiping, though swiping will remain. Tinder’s global user base continues to shrink, with monthly active users down 8% in January and direct revenue missing forecasts at $476M. Match Group’s new CEO, Spencer Rascoff, sees AI as a game-changer, likening its potential impact to the mobile revolution.
Tinder Updates Explore Page With New Dating Intentions Categories
TECH CRUNCH – Tinder has updated its Explore page with new categories like “Serious Dater,” “Short-Term Fun,” and “New Friends” to help users find matches based on dating intentions. The change aligns with the trend of “Loud Looking,” where singles are more upfront about what they want. The update, launched just before Valentine’s Day, aims to make matchmaking more transparent while competing with apps like Bumble BFF for social connections.
Hinge’s New AI Feature Determines if Users’ Prompt Response Is Too Basic
TECH CRUNCH – Hinge has introduced “Prompt Feedback,” an AI-powered tool using OpenAI’s GPT-4o mini to help users write better profile answers. It provides three types of feedback: “Go a Little Deeper,” “Try a Small Change,” and “Great Answer,” aiming to replace generic responses with more specific ones. The feature addresses a common issue, as 63% of daters struggle with what to write on their profiles. This tool is part of Match Group’s $20–$30M investment in AI, which also includes Tinder’s photo selector tool.
Cheers Is a New Dating App That Lets Friends Play Matchmaker in NYC
TECH CRUNCH – Cheers is a new dating app in NYC that lets friends play matchmaker. Founded by former Instagram engineer Sahil Ahuja, Cheers allows users to swipe, message, and share profiles on behalf of friends, aiming to reduce the awkwardness of online dating. With unlimited photo uploads and Instagram-style profiles, it combines social media features to build authenticity and trust. Unlike mainstream apps, Cheers limits users to viewing three matches daily to encourage thoughtful connections. Currently invite-only on iOS, Ahuja runs the app solo and plans to introduce paid features after reaching 5K users.
Match Group Owned Azar Aims to Revive Random Video Chat the U.S.
TECH CRUNCH – Azar, a random video chat app owned by Match Group, has facilitated ~100B global chats and is now entering the U.S. market. Targeting mostly Gen Z users, it seeks to revive the popularity of random chat platforms like Chatroulette and Omegle, but faces challenges due to the negative reputation of these apps, including safety concerns. Azar employs AI and human moderators to prevent inappropriate content, distinguishing itself from its predecessors. Though not a dating app, some use it for that purpose, and its real-time translation feature connects users across languages. CEO Linda Kim believes their focus on safety will help Azar succeed in the U.S.
Queer Social App Lex Acquired by the Former Musical.ly CEO’s Conglomerate
TECH CRUNCH – Lex, a social and dating app for the LGBTQ+ community, has been acquired by 9count, a mobile app conglomerate led by former Musical.ly CEO Alex Hofmann. Founded in 2019 by Kell Rakowski, Lex originated from a popular Instagram page and focuses on providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ users. The acquisition will allow Lex to roll out new features faster and enhance content moderation. 9count, known for apps like Wink, aims to build niche social networks for specific communities rather than large-scale platforms. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
by Amanda Silberling
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