Category: Outlets – Wall Street Journal

Love in the Time of AI: Chatbots Are Taking Over Online Dating

Posted on August 5, 2026
Amata

WALL STREET JOURNAL – New AI dating apps are offering alternatives to swiping. Amata, a chatbot-based matchmaking app, interviews users and charges about $20 to arrange a date, while Known, an AI matchmaking service supported by human matchmakers, recommends compatible partners. Volar, a now-closed AI dating app, previously tested virtual versions of users that went on simulated dates for them. Established platforms are also experimenting with AI: Grindr is developing its gAI assistant, Bumble is testing its Bee matchmaker, and Tinder and Hinge are introducing tools that help users improve profiles and start conversations.

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Young Singles Use Spreadsheets to Evaluate Dates

Posted on July 27, 2026
Dating Wrapped

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Young singles are using spreadsheets and apps such as Spread to evaluate dates, compare partners against their core values, and identify red flags or recurring patterns. Some track matches made through dating apps, while others create annual “Dating Wrapped” reports inspired by Spotify Wrapped. One dating spreadsheet template has sold ~10K copies for $9.99. Users say the data helps them make decisions amid dating-app burnout, although critics warn that excessive tracking can cause people to disregard their emotions.

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Whitney Wolfe Herd Is Developing New AI Matchmaking App to Move Beyond Swiping

Posted on September 1, 2025
A person holding a smartphone displaying a dating app with profile pictures and names on the screen.

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Bumble is developing a new AI-powered matchmaking app, separate from its core platform, with a beta release planned for fall. Built on attachment theory and informed by psychologists, the app will use relationship history and user conversations to create profiles, generate matches, and even help plan dates. The goal is to move beyond swiping and superficial traits toward deeper compatibility. At the same time, improvements are being made to the existing app by pushing users to complete stronger profiles. The initiative comes as the company faces falling market value, user fatigue with swiping, and broader industry struggles with growth and retention.

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There Are 2.5 Million on Raya’s Waitlist

Posted on August 22, 2025
Close-up of a hand holding a smartphone displaying the Raya dating app logo, with a blurred financial chart in the background.

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Raya, the invite-only dating app launched in 2015, is known for its exclusivity: it has a 2.5M–person waitlist, accepts only a small percentage of applicants, and has a user base in the low six figures. Membership costs $24.99 a month, with one-fifth paying $49.99 for the premium Raya+ tier. The company says revenue has grown 50% annually for five years and it became profitable in 2021. About 40% of users are Gen Z, making it the app’s fastest-growing group. Raya enforces strict privacy rules, appeals to celebrities and creatives, and relies heavily on referrals from existing members. Despite talk of networking, 85-90% of activity is dating. Founder Daniel Gendelman has also launched Places, a $39.99-per-year travel and dining guide with over 83K listings, as part of Raya’s expansion beyond dating.

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Tinder’s New CEO Revamps App to Win Back Gen Z

Posted on May 28, 2025

Match Group Spencer RascoffWALL STREET JOURNAL – Spencer Rascoff, now CEO of both Match Group and Tinder, is set on transforming Tinder's hookup-centric image to appeal more to Gen Z, who are increasingly disinterested in casual dating and swiping fatigue. His strategy includes faster innovation, AI features, safer experiences, and low-pressure tools like a global "double dating" feature. He emphasizes quality matches over quantity and is willing to prioritize user satisfaction over short-term profits. Rascoff also plans structural changes, shifting Tinder's team to smaller, agile pods to speed up innovation and cut bureaucracy, following Match Group's recent 13% workforce reduction.

by Chip Cutter
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See the top news on Match Group
See the top news on Tinder

Young Conservatives Seek Connection Through Niche Dating Apps and Events

Posted on May 23, 2025
Make America Hot Again



WALL STREET JOURNAL – Young conservatives in liberal cities are attending events like Make America Hot Again and using dating apps such as Date Right Stuff to meet politically aligned partners. These events, organized by Raquel Debono, offer a space where attendees don’t have to hide their views, which they often do on mainstream apps by using terms like “moderate.” Date Right Stuff, launched in 2022 by former Trump staffers, has ~400K downloads. Other events include Turning Point USA’s “The Modern Match” and mixers by The Conservateur.

by Ashley Wong
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See the top news on Date Right Stuff

Tinder’s Overhaul: Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain for Match Group

Posted on December 16, 2024
Tinder logo in pink and orange gradient

WAL STREET JOURNAL – Tinder faces slowing growth and investor skepticism. Despite boasting 47M monthly active users, Tinder struggles with its hookup reputation and fake accounts. Match’s recent analyst meeting unveiled a $1.5B buyback, its first dividend, and a forecasted revenue decline for Tinder in 2025 – below market expectations – causing a 6% share price drop. To address challenges, Tinder plans improvements, including biometric verification, AI for better matches, and new features like “double-dating.” While these updates are promising, they’ll take time to yield results. Wall Street remains cautious, awaiting proof of execution.

by Dan Gallagher
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See the top news on Tinder
See the top news on Match Group

Singles Want to Date In-Person Again but Struggle to Know How

Posted on November 14, 2024

Couple on a dateWALL STREET JOURNAL – Singles are increasingly frustrated with online dating and eager to return to in-person connections, but many have become disconnected from traditional social interaction. As people look to meet offline, they struggle with social skills and navigating new dating norms, with fears of coming across as "creepy" or intrusive. While some turn to activities like pickleball or events for singles, many find these methods limiting. The shift back to in-person dating offers a potential opportunity for innovation in how people meet, but it also highlights the challenge of balancing digital convenience with the authentic experiences people crave.

by Katherine Bindley
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Ending Subscriptions to Get Easier With New ‘Click-to-Cancel’ Rule

Posted on October 18, 2024

Click to cancelWALL STREET JOURNAL – On Wednesday, federal regulators mandated that businesses give consumers an easy way out – as simple as it was to sign up. The Federal Trade Commission voted to issue a "click-to-cancel" regulation. Businesses will have to offer a cancellation method that is easy to find. Consumers can't be required to interact with a rep., unless they consented to that step when they initiated the subscription. The final rule scaled back some elements of its proposal, including a requirement that sellers provide annual reminders to consumers about automatic renewals.

by Dave Michaels & Joseph Pisani
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Mark Brooks: Making it easy to cancel helps improve the likelihood of reorders when dating users consider which dating app to use again. Reminding users before quarterly, semi-annual or annual recurring memberships decreases the chances of complaints and chargebacks.  Both are just general good practice in the dating industry for keeping positive word-of-mouth and brand sentiment for your app, and the industry at large.

Grindr Developing AI ‘Wingman’ to Help Users Find Long-Term Relationships

Posted on October 7, 2024

GrindrWALL STREET JOURNAL – Grindr is developing an AI "wingman" for its users, aiming to help with long-term relationship prospects, set up dates, and eventually handle tasks like making reservations. The AI could even communicate with another user's AI before the actual date to screen for compatibility. Privacy concerns are a key focus due to Grindr's sensitive user base. The AI model, trained on romantic conversations, will continue to evolve based on user feedback and will respect user consent for data use. Testing is ongoing, with full release expected by 2027.

by Belle Lin
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See the top news on Grindr