BLOOMBERG – Seattle-based Sniffies (3m MAU) has a real-time map for gay hookups and is web-only due to app store content restrictions. The news caused Grindr shares to fall 2.5%. Match’s stock was little changed. Last Match purchased HER app. Match is winding down its existing Archer app, which it launched in 2023 to serve queer men. It will focus instead on supporting Sniffies.
LBS – In mid-May, Apple removed Sniffies, a queer hookup app known for its real-time cruising map and explicit content, from the App Store, sparking a backlash in the LGBTQ+ community. Though it launched on iOS just two months earlier with a "Safer Work Mode" to comply with Apple's content rules, Apple cited "ongoing content restrictions" for the takedown. Users accused Apple of applying a double standard. The app still works for existing users, and developers are exploring ways to bring it back.
FAST COMPANY – Sniffies, Archer, and Motto are emerging competitors to Grindr by focusing on specific aspects of the LGBTQ+ dating scene. Sniffies emphasizes anonymous hookups through a map-based interface, catering to users exploring their sexuality. Archer, from Match Group, targets users looking for more genuine connections by requiring photo verification and focusing on dating rather than casual encounters. Motto, created by Grindr's founder, removes anonymity completely by requiring headshots. Despite these challenges, Grindr remains dominant, expanding its features and focusing on user needs.
by Henry Chandonnet
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