Algorithms of Love: Dating in the Digital World — Today at 7:00 PM PT (California Time)

Posted on February 4, 2026
A pink flowchart shaped like a heart, labeled 'Algorithms of Love,' featuring various geometric shapes and arrows illustrating connections and processes.

OPW – Today at 7PM PT, Hanna Kozlowska is hosting a live conversation on how technology and AI are reshaping dating, intimacy, and human connection. The discussion explores the evolution of digitally assisted romance, from early computer matchmaking to modern AI-driven dating platforms, and how these systems have influenced love, sex, relationships, and the business of connection. With online dating now a $9B+ industry and dating AI growing at 25% annually, the conversation focuses on what has fundamentally changed and what remains human.

Hanna is joined by:
Steve Dean, Online Dating Consultant at Dateworking
Gary Kremen, Founder of Match.com
Jeffrey Tarr, Cofounder of Operation Match

The program is streaming live on YouTube.

Match Group Q4 and Full-Year Results

Posted on February 4, 2026
Logo of Match Group featuring stylized initials 'iG' in blue and green, alongside the text 'Match Group' in dark purple.

PRESS RELEASE – Match Group reported Q4 and full-year 2025 results showing stable revenue, stronger profitability, and early signs of improved engagement from product changes.

Full year 2025: Revenue $3.5B (flat Y/Y); Net income $613M (+11%); Adjusted EBITDA $1.2B (35% margin). Payers declined 5% Y/Y, offset by higher revenue per payer.

Q4 2025: Revenue $878M (+2%); Net income $210M (+32%); Adjusted EBITDA $370M (+14%, 42% margin).

Tinder: Engagement improved; Sparks Coverage up 4% Y/Y in December (the number of users engaging in six-way conversations). Face Check reduced bad-actor interactions by 50%+. MAU trends improved in Australia.
Hinge: Direct revenue up 26% Y/Y in Q4; MAU up nearly 50% in European expansion markets; strong momentum in Europe and Latin America.

Outlook: 2026 revenue expected to be roughly flat, with higher EBITDA margins and strong free cash flow.The company emphasized a product-led strategy focused on match quality, safety, and real-world outcomes.

See full article at ir.Match.com

Financial Compatibility Is the New Love Language

Posted on February 4, 2026
A couple analyzing financial documents while counting cash at home.

OKCUPID – OkCupid released new Gen Z and Millennial survey data showing that money now plays a practical, upfront role in dating. Who pays matters less than avoiding awkwardness, with most first dates kept under $100. The biggest turnoffs are financial dishonesty and irresponsibility, not low income. Daters value transparency, budgeting, and fairness, and see financial responsibility as more attractive than generosity. Money conversations are happening earlier, but gradually, with flexibility replacing rigid rules around splitting costs. Overall, dating is being budgeted, not abandoned, with a shift toward intentional, low-cost experiences and shared financial values. 

See full article at OKCupid Blog

Seoul Orders Dating Platform Couple.net to Shut Down Over Marriage Brokerage Law

Posted on February 4, 2026
Text graphic featuring the website name 'Couple.net' and Korean text related to matchmaking.

CHOSUN – South Korean matchmaking company Sunoo was ordered by Jongno-gu Office (a Seoul district government) to suspend its online matching platform Couple.net, on the grounds that it violates the Marriage Brokerage Act. Sunoo disputes the ruling, saying Couple.net operates like a dating app such as Tinder and should be regulated under the E-Commerce Act. Couple.net has ~100K users. The suspension would require shutting down payments and refunding users, potentially costing billions of won. A court granted a temporary stay of the enforcement order pending an administrative lawsuit. Sunoo warns that if it loses it may relocate operations to the U.S. Regulators are criticized for applying outdated law to modern platforms while global services are not restricted.

See full article at Chosun

Ditto Raises $9.2M to Turn College Dating Into Planned Real-World Dates

Posted on February 3, 2026
A group of people standing together in a social setting with the text 'Ditto' and 'Get a date every Wednesday' prominently displayed.

GLOBENEWSWIRE – Ditto raised $9.2M in seed funding to expand its iMessage-based matchmaking service for college students. The round was led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Gradient, Scribble Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Llama Venture. Ditto eliminates swiping and in-app chatting. Users submit preferences and availability, and Ditto plans one complete in-person date at a time, including match details, time, and location. After each date, user feedback is used to refine future matches. Launched at UC San Diego, Ditto has expanded to UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and UC Davis. It has 42K+ users, with 25% via referrals, and reports that 20% of matches result in actual dates. The funding will support campus expansion and a series of large-scale blind-date yacht events starting February 2026. Longer term, Ditto plans to expand beyond college dating into other real-world social and professional matchmaking.

See full article at GlobeNewswire

Fox Hunters Club Expands to the DMV With a Focus on Intentional Dating

Posted on February 3, 2026
Logo design featuring a stylized gray fox head above the text 'FOX HUNTERS CLUB' in bold white font, set against a black background.

NATLAWREVIEW – Fox Hunters Club announced its expansion to the Washington, DC–Maryland–Virginia area on May 26, 2026. The dating app targets millennial women seeking committed, non-transactional relationships with Gen X and older men. The launch will be supported by charity initiatives and a series of in-person dating experiences and giveaways branded as a “Summer of Love,” designed to encourage intentional, real-world connections.

See full article at National Law Review

A Kinsey Scientist Says Dating Tech Hasn’t Changed How Humans Bond

Posted on February 3, 2026
A speaker presenting at a podium with hands raised, gesturing during a speech, surrounded by plants and colorful lighting.

MASHABLE – Justin Garcia of the Kinsey Institute says dating apps and AI have not altered the core biology of human bonding. He views AI as a temporary coaching tool, not a substitute for reciprocal relationships, which require mutual effort and shared growth. Dating apps can help people find specific partners but often drive burnout through over-optimization and distraction. Garcia argues Gen Z delays relationships by focusing too much on self-perfection, when emotional development happens inside relationships, not in isolation.

See full article at Mashable

Known Uses AI Interviews to Replace Swiping With One-to-One Matching

Posted on February 2, 2026
Logo of dating app Known

FAST COMPANY – Known is a dating app that replaces swiping with an AI-led interview process. Users speak with an AI that assesses interests, values, and context, then receive one curated match at a time rather than multiple options. The app handles introductions and date logistics, aiming to prioritise compatibility and real-world dates over prolonged in-app engagement.

See full article at Fast Company

Justin Zinck Appointed Chief Financial Officer at ParshipMeet Group

Posted on February 2, 2026
Justin Zinck, new CFO of ParshipMeetGroup

LINKEDIN – ParshipMeet Group has appointed Justin Zinck as CFO. Zinck brings extensive experience in finance leadership and operational scaling, having spent the past six years at HelloFresh in senior finance roles, most recently as Senior Director Finance for the DACH region, where he focused on improving profitability, scaling finance operations, and supporting strategic transformation.

See full article at LinkedIn

PURE Reaches $100M in Annual Revenue Amid Strong User Growth

Posted on February 2, 2026
PURE DATING APP

BUSINESSWIRE – PURE reached $100M in annual gross revenue by the end of 2025, alongside 95% YOY growth in registrations and 46% revenue growth. The app’s expansion has been driven by a feed-based product design, a more balanced gender mix, strong performance in the US, UK, and France, and continued investment in safety and verification features.

See full article at BusinessWire