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.
OPW – Grant Langston, former CEO of eHarmony, will join Mark Brooks for a conversation on the early days of eHarmony and the realities of building and scaling a major dating platform. Mark will also present the Top 10 Things Dating & Social Business Leaders Should Be Doing in 2026.
Free for full-time leaders in the online dating industry. To attend, email mark@courtlandbrooks.com.
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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THE BRIDGE – Voicetep raised ¥200M ($1.3M) to expand its voice-based dating app and communication platform. The app, launched in April 2025, matches users through voice calls first and moves to video or messaging only with mutual consent. It holds a patent for voice-only matching and includes an AI tool that analyzes conversation patterns.
See full article at The Bridge
FORBES – Grindr’s shares rose after majority owner Raymond Zage withdrew his bid to take the company private and instead pledged to buy more shares on the open market. Zage and partner James Lu, who own ~64% of Grindr, dropped their $3.5B bid after the company’s special committee stopped talks due to uncertainty over financing. Grindr stock has gained over the past two days, recovering part of the drop that followed the halted buyout discussions. Zage, who has already bought ~$200M in shares since 2022, is pushing for higher shareholder returns through buybacks and possibly dividends. Grindr continues to grow, reporting 15M monthly users, 1.3M paying subscribers, rising profits, and strong EBITDA guidance.
See full article at Forbes
PARSHIP – Parship’s 2026 Dating Compass highlights a shift toward more intentional dating, with “Re:loving” emerging as the key trend as singles focus on clear goals and long-term potential. The study of ~3K people shows that singles, especially women, prioritise transparency, stability and security for 2026. For daters over 40, clarity and fewer compromises become more important. The report also finds that while singles are open to AI for inspiration, they reject AI-generated messages; Parship introduces an AI “Harmony Check” to help users gauge compatibility and start conversations.
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.