TURKIYE TODAY – Turkish telecom regulator BTK has blocked access to multiple chat and dating apps, including Azar, LivU, and Tango, following court approval from Ankara’s 3rd and 4th Criminal Judgeships of Peace. Other restricted platforms include Flirtfy, CoMeet, Camsurf, Roulette Chat, LivCam, and more. The ban, confirmed by EngelliWeb, applies to a wide range of social and video chat apps.
PRESS RELEASE – The Matchmakers Alliance will hold its 2025 annual conference on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady cruise ship, sailing from Miami, November 7–12. The nonprofit trade group’s flagship event brings together matchmakers, dating coaches, and industry professionals for a mix of expert-led sessions, collaboration, and community building, balanced with time for rest and luxury at sea. Featured speaker Matchmaker Maria will share insights on ethics, scaling, and fostering community. Cabins are limited; details at www.matchmakersalliance.com.
LINKEDIN – TBD Health and Pure App partner to give Pure users access to at-home STD testing and judgment-free sexual healthcare directly within the app. With STI rates at record highs and most infections asymptomatic, the integration makes testing simple, private, and accessible.
See full article at LinkedIn
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.
See full article at Wall Street Journal
OPW – The London GDI is on September 17th. Are you going? This is where the industry meets to compare notes and catch-up with friends. Join the fray. This is a fascinating and diverse lineup. Tix are here. Here are the speakers.
Keynotes
All Speakers
Also, there's a leader's lunch the day before. Tix are here.
I'll be there. Ping me at mark@courtlandbrooks.com if you'd like to connect prior to the conference.
OPW – Global Dating Insights (GDI) has partnered with Mark Brooks, CEO of the dating industry’s leading consultancy and agency Courtland Brooks, as its new Partnerships Manager. Mark brings more than two decades of experience in the online dating and social discovery sector, having advised many of the world’s most recognisable brands (PlentyofFish, MeetMe, eHarmony) through Courtland Brooks. His expertise spans strategic growth, marketing, partnerships, and operational optimisation, making him one of the most respected figures in the industry. He has also advised many vendors who wish to approach the dating industry. Mark will work closely with partners, helping them maximise the value of their involvement with GDI’s events, editorial content, and sponsorship opportunities. Global Dating Insights will be in London for its 2025 Conference on September 17th, and in New York City on Thursday, March 19th, 2026. Simon Corbett, Founder of GDI, said: “Mark’s knowledge of the dating industry is second to none. Having him help GDI in this role is a huge win for us and for our partners. His track record, network, and insight will be invaluable as we continue to grow GDI’s global presence.” Mark will continue to lead Courtland Brooks. For all enquiries relating to GDI’s events and sponsorship opportunities email mark@courtlandbrooks.com.
OPW – One of the things that makes OPW.news special is the "News By Company" historical reference list.
Online Personals Watch was started in 2004 and we have faithfully catalogued the news on hundreds of dating apps. OPW has become quite a useful historical research tool at this stage. So, I'd like to point out a little link on the sidebar of OPW that may be useful for you. If you'd like to look up a company and see their news in summary format, along with any interviews that I may have done with them over the years, please see "News By Company", on the OPW sidebar on web, or down below if you're reading OPW on mobile. Scroll all the way to the bottom of that page to see the DeadPool, as well. Let me know any questions. 😉 – mark@courtlandbrooks.com
JPOST – A record 6,747 Jewish singles from nearly a dozen countries joined a virtual speed dating event held after Tu B’Av, the Jewish holiday celebrating love, resulting in 15K dates in just one hour. Organized by Partners in Torah, AISH, DateNight AI, CoronaCrush, and others, the event beat last year’s record, with half of the participants planning second dates. Past editions have already led to marriages, and attendees praised the format as a refreshing alternative to apps.
Curated by the Courtland Brooks team
OPW – We're dedicated to providing you with quality daily executive summaries and intelligence. Subscribe here, and send to a friend. We find news and info that will help make you smarter and help you make better informed decisions. Online Personals Watch has been run by the Courtland Brooks team since 2004.
