UK Singles Are Struggling to Connect Offline
OPW – A new study conducted by Strand Partners for Match Group found that 47% of UK singles say it has never been harder to connect with people. A third (32%) met nobody new in person last month, while 43% say most of their social life happens through a screen. Dating apps and friends are now the most common ways to meet a partner, each accounting for 20%. Just 4% of Gen Z met their most recent partner in a pub, bar or club, compared with 21% of Boomers.
Grindr Tests Bot-to-Bot Dating as AI Moves Deeper Into Matchmaking
CNN – Dating apps are moving beyond AI-written profiles and messages towards automating parts of the dating process itself. Grindr is testing bot-to-bot conversations that could vet potential dates before users speak, while Bumble is developing AI-driven matchmaking and Hinge is adding AI tools for profile creation and conversation starters. Newer apps Amata, Sitch, and Ditto are taking another approach, using detailed questionnaires and AI to narrow users down to a smaller pool of matches rather than endless swiping.
Pew Research: Nearly 40% of U.S. Adults Belong to Online Communities
PEW RESEARCH – New research from Pew Research Center finds ~40% of U.S. adults belong to an online community, rising to 48% among those aged 18–29. 70% of members say these spaces add value to their lives, mainly through information, entertainment, and advice. However, only ~20% feel very or extremely close to others in their most-visited community. Views on online relationships vary sharply: 54% of adults under 30 say they can be as meaningful as in-person relationships, compared with 14% of those aged 65 and older.
Lunch Actually CEO Urges Singles to Start Dating Earlier
THE STRAITS TIMES – Lunch Actually CEO Violet Lim encourages young people to date during university rather than wait until their careers are established. Speaking to The Straits Times, she said rising expectations, endless choice and reluctance to commit are making relationships harder to build. She advises singles to decide whether to meet after about a week of chatting and consider a second date even without an immediate spark. Lunch Actually says it has arranged over 150K dates and matched ~ 4,500 married couples. Lim reports growing client numbers, including more people in their late 50s, 60s, and 70s seeking companionship.
South Korea’s Matchmaking Agencies Grow 34% Since 2016
SEOUL ECONOMIC DAILY – South Korea had 2,176 registered matchmaking agency operators in August, up 34.4% from 2016, according to National Tax Service data. Over the same period, wedding venue operators fell 30.6% to 762. The divergence comes as marriages recover, reaching 240,326 last year, the highest since 2018. Marriages continued to rise this year, with July registrations up 9.3% compared with a year earlier.
Bumble Launches Searchable Handles for Dating Profiles
FAST COMPANY – Bumble has launched Handles, searchable usernames that let people find and like a specific profile instead of relying only on the app’s recommendations. Users can share their handle when meeting someone in person, use it to introduce friends, or post it on social media. Messaging still requires a mutual match, and handles can be switched off at any time. The feature is currently available to iOS users in the US.
Hinge Wants to re-educate Bad Daters Instead of Banning Them
MASHABLE – Hinge will now give some users a second chance after minor harassment violations. Instead of an immediate ban, they must complete a short lesson on appropriate messaging before using the app again. Human moderators will decide which cases qualify. Serious or repeated offences will still result in a permanent ban.
Stoke to Launch Venue-Based Dating and Friendship App in Miami
AXIOS – Stoke is a new app launching in Miami to help people meet for dating or friendship at local bars, cafés and gyms. Users check in at a participating venue, choose what they are looking for and see who else is there. If two people are interested in meeting, a chat opens. It disappears when they leave the venue. Founder Kevin Battista will test Stoke across five Wynwood venues on November 7. A wider launch is planned for January, with 60 venue partners. The app will be free for users, with partner venues paying to appear on the platform.
Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff: Tinder’s Turnaround Is About People
BIGGO FINANCE – Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff discussed Tinder’s turnaround on the In Good Company podcast with Nicolai Tangen. He said the company had become too focused on short-term revenue and had stopped innovating. During his first year, he visited all 12 offices, cleared Tinder’s product roadmap and restarted its internship programme. The company is building more social features for Gen Z, which makes up ~60% of Tinder and Hinge users. Rascoff said younger singles prefer meeting in groups and through low-pressure activities. Tinder Events operates in 25 cities and is expected to reach 75+ by year-end. Double Date is used by ~25% of Gen Z users in the US and nearly half in Norway. Match Group has ~2,000 employees and operates in ~200 countries. Tinder is the leading dating app in 166 markets. Rascoff said free users remain essential because they create the large dating pool needed for the apps to work. He does not expect expensive matchmaking tiers to become a major source of revenue.