PSYPOST – A study by Val Wongsomboon (FSU/Yale) and Amanda Gesselman (Kinsey Institute) found that when people imagine being single for several years, they become more willing to date someone with a dealbreaker trait. The specific length of time didn’t matter – just expecting to stay single made standards more flexible. The research also showed that people who view singlehood negatively are more likely to compromise on their boundaries.
STATISTA – Bumble and Tinder are the most popular dating apps in the U.S., according to Statista Consumer Insights. 35% of U.S. dating app users said they had used Bumble in the past 12 months, compared to 37% for Tinder. In the following ranks were Badoo, Plenty of Fish and Hinge.
GDI – Mark Brooks interviews Ikuho Nakahata, Head of Marketing at Tapple, about the Japanese online dating market. Ikuho explains how Tapple grew to 20M users by focusing on shared interests, a simple swipe interface, and trust features that helped move past Japan’s old “deaikei” stigma. She discusses key competitors like Pairs and the dating app with, and explains how Tapple positions itself as the more casual, youth-oriented option in a crowded market. Ikuho also introduces Koigram, Tapple’s new free MBTI-style personality-matching app designed to lower barriers for men and women and offer a fresh, shareable dating experience.
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TECHROUND – Hoony Youn, CTO at Seeking, says dating apps attract fraud because users arrive open and emotionally receptive, and it’s historically been easy for criminals to hide behind fake identities. Seeking introduced Selfie Liveness Verification with AWS Rekognition, a biometric check that detects whether someone is a real person rather than a deepfake, spoof or stolen photo. The system checks for details like texture and blood flow and flags mismatches with previously banned accounts. This year, ~50K fake profiles were stopped, many using AI-generated images. Youn notes that verification hasn’t slowed sign-ups, and that strong safety measures are becoming essential across the industry as romance fraud and AI-driven scams increase.
See full article at TechRound
LONDON-TV – Chapter 2 Dating, the UK’s first app for widows and widowers, is hosting a free Widowed Speed Social on 2 Dec 2025 in Central London. The event gives bereaved singles a safe, welcoming space to meet others who understand their journey and are open to friendship or romance. Founded by widow Nicky Wake, Chapter 2 is bringing its community offline to support people navigating life after loss. Men are especially encouraged to attend, as widowed men are often underrepresented in support spaces.
See full article at London-TV
BBC – “Cuffing season” is the cultural idea that singles look for short-term relationships during autumn and winter. The term likely emerged around 2009, but its origins are unclear. While dating app activity does rise between Nov and Feb, scientists say humans aren’t seasonal breeders like some animals. Instead, the trend seems driven by social and psychological factors. Research shows searches related to dating and sex peak in both winter and summer, not just the colder months. Some older studies suggested more sexual activity around Christmas, but recent evidence is limited. Experts say mood changes caused by reduced daylight, including lower serotonin and disrupted circadian rhythms, can increase the desire for connection. Winter loneliness, family pressure during the holidays, and the biological pull of bonding hormones like oxytocin may all play a role.
VICE – Frolly is a new dating app launched in October 2025 that matches people based on their compatibility as dog lovers. Users create profiles for themselves and their dogs, and the app pairs matches using details like breed, energy level, and lifestyle. It donates 25% of profits to animal welfare and plans to expand beyond Charlotte.
See full article at Vice
OPW – Edition 47 of the LTR (Love, Tech, Relationships) online experience will be on Wednesday, December 3rd, at 12 pm (noon) EST (New York time).
In this edition of LTR, Mark Brooks will sit down with Grant Langston, eHarmony’s original marketing lead and later CEO. They’ll look back at the early days of eHarmony, how the company was started, and the practical challenges of building and scaling a major online dating platform.
Following the interview, Mark will present the ‘Top 10 Things Dating & Social Business Leaders Should Be Doing in 2026’ — building on his previous talks on industry trends to now focus on action.
If you hold a full-time leadership role at an online dating company, you are welcome to join LTR events for free.
Why attend LTR?
🏠 Flexible: Attend from anywhere – no travel required.
⏰ Convenient: Live session. 90 minutes.
💰 Free: No registration fees.
See the LTR Edition 47 speakers and invite page here.
Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com to RSVP.
FREEDOM FOR ALL AMERICANS – ~27% of couples who married in 2025 met through online dating, according to The Knot’s large Real Weddings Study of ~17,000 U.S. couples. This reflects a major shift in how relationships form, with dating apps becoming a mainstream gateway into long-term partnerships. The figure comes from newlyweds and is higher than older, broader national surveys because it focuses on recent relationships in the app era. Other research from Pew, Stanford, and PNAS-linked studies shows the same pattern: online channels are now the dominant way modern couples meet, especially for younger adults and LGBTQ users.
See full article at Freedom for All Americans
NEW YORK TIMES – Facebook Dating has quietly become one of the biggest dating services, now topping 21M daily users by offering a free, easy alternative to paid apps. Its growth shows how Facebook is reinventing itself: younger users may ignore the main feed, but they return for Marketplace, Messenger, and Dating. The service benefits from real profiles, strong network effects, and Meta’s decision not to charge subscriptions, keeping all features open to everyone. Usage among under-30s is rising, older users remain active, and Meta is expanding the product with AI tools like an AI dating assistant, an AI matchmaker called Meet Cute, and even friend-as-matchmaker features. Despite some reports of scams, many users prefer Facebook Dating because it gives them more matches without paying.