TECH 
CRUNCH – Teaser AI is a new dating app developed by the team behind Dispo, a photo-sharing app. The app allows users to chat with AI versions of potential matches before swiping right or left. The AI tries to imitate users' personalities based on their answers to personality questions and their chat interactions. The goal is to provide an icebreaker for conversations and facilitate in-person meetings. The app limits AI conversations to five back-and-forth messages and prevents unsavory or overly intimate interactions. Teaser focuses on anti-ghosting and encourages users to have meaningful conversations. The app also offers a subscription option with additional features. While the concept is intriguing, some users may find the AI conversations less engaging over time. The app is still new, and user behavior may evolve.
Category: Outlets – Tech Crunch
Match Group Debuts Archer, a New Face-first Gay Dating App for Men
TECH CRUNCH – Match Group is introducing Archer, a new gay dating app specifically designed for gay, bi, and queer men. Unlike other hookup apps, Archer combines dating app features with social media elements to encourage deeper self-expression. It will launch in New York in June, followed by LA, Washington DC, and a nationwide rollout within a year. The app emphasizes safety by requiring users to display profile photos with faces and employing AI to auto-blur potential nudity in chats.
Tinder Will Remove Social Handles From Profiles
TECH CRUNCH – Tinder is updating its community guidelines in a bid to keep the dating app safe and respectful. As part of the updates, Tinder will automatically remove social handles from bios and discourage users from posting private conversations with their matches on other platforms. In addition, Tinder is making it clear that an account should be for a single person, and that users in poly and open relationships should create separate accounts for each partner.
Match Says It’s ‘Very Possible’ Apple-Epic Ruling Could Result in App Store Fee Relief
TECH CRUNCH – Match Group believes that the recent Apple-Epic Games antitrust appeals ruling may result in fee relief for developers on the App Store. Match Group's President and CFO, Gary Swidler, pointed to various battles Apple has been facing, including the recent antitrust investigation in the U.K. and the E.U.'s Digital Markets Act, which will impact App Store fees. Swidler suggested that Apple would have to decide whether it wanted to rethink its policies on a global basis or continue to set specific rules for each region. Match expects to see some sort of decision related to these questions over the next 12 months.
Google Tests New Play Store Ad Slot
TECH CRUNCH – Google is testing a new advertising slot on the Play Store. The new ad slot, similar to one Apple introduced two years ago, appears when Android users access the Play Store's search menu. While the slot previously contained personalized app suggestions, it now includes labeled ads. The tests have been observed in several global markets, indicating a broader testing phase. Google's move could boost its revenue from Play Store ads, especially considering recent concessions on Play Store commissions due to regulatory pressures. Although Google has not disclosed the size of its Play Store Ads business, it's expected to be substantial, given the platform's estimated revenue of $48B in 2021.
Tinder’s Verification Process Will Now Use AI and Video Selfies
Tinder Introduces Relationship Types and Pronouns to Attract Gen Z Users
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.
