Category: Reporters – Natalie Lung

Gen Z Rejects AI on Dating Apps

Posted on July 15, 2025

Ai in dating appsBLOOMBERG – A Bloomberg Intelligence survey of 1K U.S. users found Gen Z less comfortable than millennials using AI on dating apps, for writing prompts, replying to messages, or editing photos. ~50% said they don't need AI to build profiles or chat, suggesting limited demand for these tools. Analyst Nicole D'Souza warned that underused AI features could hurt company margins. Match Group has faced eight straight quarters of subscriber declines, while Bumble also reports falling revenue. Gen Z, now about half of Tinder's user base, dates less and prefers long-term relationships. Hinge, which caters to that, is growing. Tinder is trying to rebrand with features like double-dating to better meet Gen Z's needs.

by Natalie Lung
See full article at Bloomberg

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Dating App HER Acquired by Match Group

Posted on May 21, 2025

Match Group Her logosBLOOMBERG – HER, the world’s largest dating app for sapphic, queer, and LGBTQIA+ women and nonbinary people, has joined Match Group. Founded in 2013 as Dattch, HER now serves ~13M users globally. The partnership aims to strengthen HER’s infrastructure, improve safety and trust systems, and accelerate global growth, while preserving the app’s mission. HER’s team and vision remain unchanged, and the platform will continue focusing on inclusive experiences for lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, nonbinary, and other underrepresented communities.

by Natalie Lung
See full article at Bloomberg

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Match Group CTO Will Wu Is Stepping Down

Posted on April 21, 2025

Match GroupBLOOMBERG – Match Group's chief technology and product officer Will Wu said he's leaving his role at the end of May, adding to a slew of executive changes at the dating app company. Wu announced his departure in a post on his Linkedin, saying he'll advise the leadership team through the transition. Match Group didn’t immediately name his replacement.

by Natalie Lung
See full article at Bloomberg

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Match Group Clashes With Activist Investor Over Board Shake-Up

Posted on April 7, 2025

Match Group for social mediaBLOOMBERG – Match Group is facing pressure from activist investor Anson Funds, which criticized the board as outdated and resistant to change, citing frequent CEO turnover and poor execution. Anson is nominating three new directors with strong tech and media experience to push for a strategic overhaul. Match responded by rejecting the claims as inaccurate and defended its board's expertise, saying it's already reviewing nominees and committed to long-term growth. The clash highlights ongoing investor frustration after years of declining market value, with Tinder not expected to return to revenue growth until 2027.

by Natalie Lung
See full article at Bloomberg

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Tinder Owner’s New CEO Signals Urgency to Rebuild User Trust

Posted on March 17, 2025

Match Group Spencer RascoffBLOOMBERG – Match Group's new CEO, Spencer Rascoff, prioritizes user trust, operational efficiency, and AI-driven improvements across Tinder and Hinge. He acknowledged that the apps have felt like a "numbers game" and pledged to refocus on real connections. The company will streamline operations, encourage employee feedback, and increase in-office collaboration. Match faces pressure from activist investors to reverse a decline in paying Tinder users and refine its corporate strategy. Tinder aims to improve safety features and user retention but doesn't expect growth to return until 2027.

by Natalie Lung
See full article at Bloomberg

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Tinder Reshapes Strategy to Shed ‘Hookup App’ Label and Boost Growth

Posted on December 13, 2024
Tinder logo

BLOOMBERG – Tinder is shifting its focus from monetization to improving user experience, aiming to rebuild trust and move away from its “hookup app” reputation. CEO Faye Iosotaluno warned of declining revenue through 2026, with growth expected to resume in 2027 as the platform introduces features like AI-powered recommendations, face-photo requirements, and double-date matches to meet evolving user expectations. While these changes may temporarily reduce its user base, Match also lowered its Q4 revenue forecasts due to currency headwinds, disappointing investors seeking faster progress. Activist investors, including Starboard Value, have pressured Match for growth, even suggesting a sale if turnaround efforts fail, as the company faces management changes and a $41B market cap loss since 2021. Despite these challenges, Match plans to return 100% of free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, signaling its commitment to long-term shareholder value.

by Natalie Lung
See full article at Bloomberg

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Match Group Faces Pressure to Revive Tinder Amid Investor Scrutiny

Posted on December 12, 2024
Logo of Match Group

BNN BLOOMBERG – Match Group faces heightened expectations at its investor meeting, with analysts and activist investors demanding a clear turnaround plan for Tinder, which has struggled with declining subscriber growth despite recent updates. The company’s market value has fallen by $41B since 2021 due to frequent leadership changes and limited product innovation. Activist investors, including Starboard Value, are pushing for growth and have proposed a sale if improvements fail. Tinder’s new CEO has a limited window to demonstrate progress as analysts call for a credible strategy to stabilize user trends by 2025. Other concerns include capital allocation, growth for Hinge, and expansion in Asia, but Tinder remains the primary focus as Match works to restore investor confidence.

by Natalie Lung
See full article at BNN Bloomberg

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Tinder Tells Colombia Users to Vet Matches After Fatal Druggings

Posted on January 26, 2024

TinderBLOOMBERG – Tinder issued a safety warning to its users in Colombia amid an increase in criminals using the popular dating app to lure victims who they drug and rob. "Recently, there have been government advisories about heightened risks in certain regions," according to an in-app message sent to Tinder users. "Please remember to vet your matches, meet in public places, and share plans with people you trust. If something feels off, you can end the date." Eight US citizens died in suspected homicides or drugging.

by Natalie Lung & Oscar Medina
See full article at Bloomberg

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Tinder Just Added a $500-a-Month Subscription

Posted on September 25, 2023

TinderBLOOMBERG – Tinder has rolled out an ultra-premium subscription tier, charging $499 per month to access features like exclusive search and matching. The new plan, called Tinder Select, was only offered to less than 1% of Tinder users who are among the app's most active. Users will be able to access new features, such as "VIP" search, matching and conversation, that aren't currently provided with its existing paid plans. Match Group President Gary Swidler said at a Citi conference earlier this month he expects Tinder Select to only attract "a relatively tiny amount of new payers," but he said it will have a significant impact on revenue.

by Natalie Lung & Jessica Nix
See full article at Fortune

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