ITV – Tinder and TikTok have partnered to launch Double Date Island, a reality dating series inspired by Tinder’s Double Date feature. The show will bring together pairs of single friends from countries including the US, Brazil, Australia, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany for a dating experience in Portugal. The series will debut on TikTok this summer.
LINKEDIN – Match Group’s Face Check has been recognized by Fast Company as a 2026 World Changing Idea. The technology is designed to verify that users are who they claim to be and to prevent previously banned bad actors from returning to apps across the company’s portfolio, including Tinder, Hinge, and Match. According to Match Group, Face Check has contributed to a more than 60% reduction in views of profiles later identified as bad actors and an approximately 40% decrease in fraud-related reports. The recognition highlights the growing importance of identity verification and trust and safety initiatives as dating platforms work to create safer environments for meeting new people online.
PRWEEK – Tinder has appointed Monica Earle as its new Global Head of Communications. Earle joined from Duolingo, where she served as Director of PR and Communications. Reporting to Tinder CMO Melissa Hobley, she will oversee global communications, including product and technology storytelling, executive visibility, and brand narrative.
BLOOMBERG – Tinder is expanding into offline social events as part of a broader redesign of the platform. The company recently launched live events in Los Angeles, including pickleball meetups, aimed at helping users connect in person. Tinder is also introducing group dating features and AI-powered updates as it shifts toward more interactive and real-world dating experiences.
NETINFLUENCER – Tinder Canada launched a spring campaign called “It Starts With a Sign” to promote its new Astrology Mode feature, which allows users to display zodiac signs and compatibility information on profiles. According to Tinder, the campaign generated ~770K influencer impressions and ~24K engagements across organic content.
BBC – Some younger users are increasingly meeting partners through gaming, fitness, and hobby-based platforms rather than traditional dating apps. Apps and communities, including Strava, Letterboxd, and online games such as World of Warcraft, are being used to build relationships through shared interests and ongoing interaction. The shift comes as several major dating apps have reported declining user numbers in some markets. Companies, including Tinder and Hinge, are responding with new features, niche communities, and alternative matching formats designed to encourage more direct and interest-based connections.
FORTUNE – Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff revived the company’s canceled Tinder internship program, receiving ~30K applications for 27 positions. The internships will begin June 1 and run through August across engineering, product, design, marketing, and analytics teams. Rascoff said the company is increasing investment in early-career hiring and Gen Z talent, despite broader cuts to internships and entry-level hiring across the tech sector. He also said Match Group plans to hire more workers who are already experienced using AI tools in daily workflows.
BUSINESS INSIDER – Spencer Rascoff said Gen Z finds traditional dating apps intimidating because they feel too structured and “like a job interview.” Speaking during Match Group’s earnings call, he said younger users want low-pressure, more natural ways to meet people. In response, Match Group is adding features focused on real-life interaction. Hinge is testing a “Direct to Date” feature that encourages users to meet immediately after matching, while Tinder has started hosting in-person dating events and added interest-based features like music and astrology modes.
REUTERS – Match Group reported a strong Q1 2026, with revenue up to $864M (+4%) and profit rising 42% to $167M. Growth was driven mainly by Hinge, which saw 28% revenue growth, while Tinder showed early signs of recovery. Tinder’s registrations returned to YOY growth in March for the first time in nearly two years, with improving engagement and retention. New features and product changes are starting to stabilize the platform, especially with younger users. Overall, paying users declined 5%, but revenue per user increased. The company is streamlining operations, cutting costs, and investing in higher-growth areas, including a $100M stake in gay dating app Sniffies.
BBC – Tinder will let users prove they are human and not robots using advanced eye-scanning technology amid rising fears over AI. Users of Tinder, as well as platforms like Zoom, can scan their eyes to earn a “proof of humanity” badge. The scan can be done through an app or an orb-shaped device run by the World network. It scans the iris to confirm a person is human. World, formerly known as Worldcoin, is part of Tools for Humanity, co-founded and chaired by Sam Altman, who also leads ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. Once verified, users receive a unique ID stored on their smartphone, known as their World ID.