Online Personals Watch
Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Research
    • News by Company & Categories
    • News by Date
    • All Online Dating Statistics
    • Public Companies
    • Acquisitions
    • Funding Rounds
    • Top Online Dating Reporters
    • OPW in the Press
    • All Executive Interviews
  • Conferences
  • Courtland Brooks
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
Menu

Grindr Ends Talks on $3.46 Billion Take-private Bid Over Financing Uncertainty

Posted on November 24, 2025
Grindr

REUTERS – Grindr has ended talks on a $3.46B take-private offer from its major shareholders Ray Zage and James Lu after they failed to provide clear financing details. The stock fell ~12% after the announcement. Grindr says the breakdown of talks does not change its strategy and that it is still projecting ~26% revenue growth for the year. The company continues to outperform Match Group and Bumble despite weaker sentiment in the dating-app sector. Zage and Lu, who bought Grindr in 2020 and took it public in 2022, hold ~60% of the shares.

See full article at Reuters

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Hinge’s New D.A.T.E. Report: How Gen Z Can Close the Communication Gap in 2026

Posted on November 24, 2025
Hinge D.A.T.E. report

HINGE – Hinge’s 2025 Gen Z D.A.T.E. Report shows that young daters want deeper connection but struggle to start meaningful conversations. The study, based on ~30K surveyed users, highlights a clear communication gap driven by hesitation and mixed gender expectations. Gen Z often feels they ask enough questions on dates, but many feel their dates don’t ask enough in return. Vulnerability is another barrier, with many feeling exposed after opening up even though most people are comfortable hearing others share. Looking ahead to 2026, Gen Z plans to close this gap by asking better questions, using tools like Voice Notes, going on sober dates, and trying AI as a light support tool rather than a replacement for real conversation.

See full article at Hinge website

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Frolly Matches Singles Through Their Dogs

Posted on November 24, 2025
Frolly logo

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

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

69% of Dating Apps Get Deleted Within a Month

Posted on November 24, 2025
69% of Dating Apps Get Deleted Within a Month

FAST COMPANY – AppsFlyer reports that 69% of dating apps downloaded in 2025 were deleted within a month, up from 65% in 2024. Pew Research finds that 53% of adults under 30 have used a dating site or app, making them the age group most engaged with online dating. Hinge continues to outperform its competitors, with Gen Z making up 56% of its users and paying subscribers rising by 17%. Tinder’s new features are gaining traction with younger users, with Double Date used mainly by people under 30 and College Mode active among one in four eligible students. Kinsey Institute data shows that Gen Z prefers to meet people offline, and Bloomberg reports that they are uncomfortable with AI-generated bios or messages, although they accept AI tools that quietly support safety, photo selection, and profile quality.

See full article at Fast Company

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Announcing LTR 47 With Grant Langston, Former CEO of eHarmony and Mark Brooks (Courtland Brooks)

Posted on November 21, 2025

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.

Promotional image for LTR (Love, Tech, Relationships) featuring Grant Langston, former CEO of eHarmony, and Mark Brooks, CEO of Courtland Brooks, in a conference setting.

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Indian Wedding Matchmaker Shaadi.com Is Said to Consider IPO

Posted on November 20, 2025
Logo of Shaadi.com

BLOOMBERG – Shaadi.com’s parent company, People Interactive, is quietly preparing for an IPO. Anupam Mittal, its founder and a familiar face from Shark Tank India, has begun early talks with investment bankers, though nothing formal has been appointed yet. If this moves forward, Shaadi.com would join Matrimony.com, which listed in 2017. Shaadi.com remains one of India’s biggest and oldest digital matchmaking platforms, competing with Matrimony.com and Info Edge’s Jeevansathi. For now, the company has not commented, and the discussions remain early and private, but the intent to explore a listing is clearly on the table.

See full article at Bloomberg

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Ofcom’s Approach to Implementing the Online Safety Act

Posted on November 20, 2025
Ofcom logo with the tagline 'making communications work for everyone'

OFCOM – Ofcom is phasing in the UK’s Online Safety Act through 2027, creating a full regulatory system that makes online platforms legally responsible for tackling illegal content, protecting children, improving age-verification, publishing transparency reports, and strengthening terms of service. They’ve already issued key rules on illegal harms and child safety, and the next steps include new guidance for protecting women and girls, requirements for handling data about deceased children, super-complaints, accredited technologies for detecting child sexual abuse and terrorism content, media-literacy standards, and extra duties for major platforms (like controls for fraudulent ads, ID verification, and protections for journalism and democratic content). By 2027, major services will need to comply fully, publish public safety reports, meet stricter enforcement standards, and possibly even face new requirements for app stores and expanded priority offences such as cyberflashing and self-harm encouragement.

See full article at Ofcom website

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Gay Dating App Archer Unveils Its New Trophies Feature

Posted on November 18, 2025
Archer Trophies feature

SO.GAY – Archer has launched its boldest campaign yet by appointing singer David Archuleta as its “Chief Trophies Officer” in a playful Devil Wears Prada–inspired promo highlighting the app’s new Trophies feature, a system of 25+ unlockable badges earned through real activity on the app that makes a user’s interests, type, and dating style visible from the start.

See full article at So.Gay

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

27% of 2025 Marriages Began on Dating Apps

Posted on November 18, 2025
27% of 2025 Marriages Began on Dating Apps

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

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Facebook Dating Is a Surprise Hit

Posted on November 18, 2025
Logo of Facebook Dating featuring a stylized heart shape with the text 'Facebook Dating' below it on a purple background.

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. 

See full article at Seattle Times

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • …
  • 1,890
  • Next
  • YouTube
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
Graphic featuring the logo of Courtland Brooks with the text 'We'll Help You Grow, Thrive & Exit' and bullet points for services including Strategy, Marketing, PR, Influencers, and Business Development.

OUR EVENTS

A blurred audience in a large venue with colorful lighting, featuring the bold text 'LTR US' in the foreground.

OUR SPONSORS

Logo of HubPeople featuring geometric shapes and the text 'HubPeople' in a modern font.
Logo of LeadThink, featuring the tagline 'YOUR GROWTH STARTS WITH US' and the description 'The #1 Destination for Early to Late-Stage Startups' in a combination of blue and pink text.

GOT NEWS?

Share your news at
tips@onlinepersonalswatch.com.

COURTLAND BROOKS

We help online dating & social businesses grow, thrive, and exit. See CourtlandBrooks.com.

CONTACT

Mark Brooks
CEO, Courtland Brooks
Publisher, Online Personals Watch
mark@courtlandbrooks.com

Irena Brooks
Editor, Online Personals Watch
irena@courtlandbrooks.com

©2025 Online Personals Watch

Loading Comments...