WIRED - Browser Dating is a new experimental app that matches users based on their browser history. Users upload their last 5K searches, which are analyzed by AI to create personality profiles. The idea is to reveal who people really are, beyond curated profiles. It's a one-time €9 payment for unlimited matches, but early concerns include privacy risks, lack of photo uploads, and clunky user experience. The app has fewer than 1K users so far.
An Experimental New Dating Site Matches Singles Based on Their Browser Histories
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Why Is Hinge Betting on Substack
ADWEEK - Hinge is turning to Substack to reach Gen Z through authentic, long-form storytelling instead of traditional marketing. Hinge used the platform to share real user love stories as part of its "No Ordinary Love" campaign, building brand trust and increasing consideration by 10.5%.
Key takeaways:
- Substack offers a clutter-free, ad-free space to engage audiences through real narratives, not sales pitches.
- Gen Z values authenticity, not promotional fluff - apps that succeed on Substack focus on relatable content, not direct marketing.
- Partnering with existing Substack creators can help tap into engaged niche communities.
- While Substack may not directly drive conversions, it strengthens brand loyalty and trust - vital in the dating space.
Important: Copy-pasting email marketing content won't work. Substack users expect sincerity, creativity, and personal voice.
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Breeze Dating App Launched in Southend and 12 Other UK Cities
ECHO - Breeze, a dating app focused on real-life connections, has launched in Southend and 12 other UK cities after success in London and Manchester. Unlike traditional apps, Breeze removes chat features, instead arranging in-person dates at partner bars for £9.50 each, which includes a drink. Users get a limited number of verified matches daily, and accounts are frozen after repeated ghosting. Since launching in 2020, Breeze has organized ~400K dates across Europe and New York and is also popular with the LGBTQ+ community.
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Grindr CEO on the Power of AI and DEI
BLOOMBERG - Grindr CEO George Arison appeared on Bloomberg Technology to discuss how the company is using AI to develop new features specifically designed for its LGBTQ+ community. He highlighted Grindr's recent growth and emphasized the importance of integrating DEI - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - into their product strategy to ensure the platform remains safe, representative, and welcoming. Arison also shared how he personally uses AI tools in his own work.
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TikTok's Latest Budget Hack Is 'Dating for Dinner'
MARKETWATCH - The TikTok-driven trend "dating for dinner," or intentionally dating for free meals, has gained popularity due to economic pressures, particularly among Gen Z. Nearly half of Gen Z (48%) feel financially insecure, a significant rise from 30% the previous year, driven by high unemployment (9.7% among 16–24-year-olds versus 4.2% overall), rising living costs, and student debt burdens. According to Bumble's 2025 report, 95% of singles say future economic concerns impact their dating decisions, with 60% of women seeking financial stability in partners. While 44% of singles surveyed by Self Financial believe the higher earner should pay for dates, 36% prefer splitting costs evenly, and 21% think whoever organizes the date should pay.
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Singles Using AI up 300% YOY, Says Match
MASHABLE - Singles increasingly rely on AI in dating, with usage rising 333% from last year, according to Match's Singles in America study (surveying ~5K U.S. singles). ~26% of singles now use AI to improve their dating profiles, messages, and compatibility screening, particularly among Gen Z, where nearly half already use AI. However, many singles consider it unacceptable to use AI to alter photos (44%) or generate conversations (36%). 16% of singles have had AI romantic companions (33% Gen Z, 23% millennials).
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Tinder Is Rebuilding Its Dating App Experience for Gen Z
FORBES - Tinder is overhauling its app to win back Gen Z, who are turning away from hookup culture, swiping fatigue, and unsafe user experiences. CEO Spencer Rascoff is shifting focus toward better user experience with AI features, safety improvements, and new tools like group dating. Gen Z wants authentic, in-person connections, and Tinder is adapting before it loses more ground - despite flatlined growth and being ranked last in a UX study. Match Group has cut 13% of its workforce and is prioritizing long-term user satisfaction over short-term profit.
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Tinder Launches RelationChips Snack
ADAGE - Tinder launched "RelationChips," a limited-edition snack to promote its claim that a new relationship starts on the app every three seconds, the time it takes to eat a chip. The chips come with a QR code for a free week of Tinder Gold.
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The Feels - Touchy-feely Singles Mixers
LOS ANGELES TIMES - The Feels is an in-person singles event founded by Allie Hoffman that combines somatic exercises, meditation, and guided prompts to help participants connect emotionally and physically without relying on dating apps. Launched in 2022 in New York, it has since expanded to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, D.C., and Philadelphia. Events are tailored by community type (e.g. queer, monogamous) and cost $75–150. Attendees engage in activities like eye gazing, hand holding, and shared breathing to assess compatibility through physical presence and nervous system responses, rather than appearance or profiles. Hoffman aims to expand to 3–4 events per month in L.A. by fall.
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