Bumble May Remove Swiping as It Overhauls the Dating App Experience

Posted on May 7, 2026
Bumble

MASHABLE – Bumble may be moving away from its traditional swiping model, though the company has not confirmed it directly. Speculation started after Bumble posted “Dear swiping, it’s over” on Instagram shortly after reporting a 14% drop in revenue and a 21% decline in paying users in Q1 2026. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd said the company is rebuilding the app as part of “Bumble 2.0.” The overhaul includes a new interaction model, redesigned profiles, upgraded backend technology, and AI-powered dating features. Bumble is also investing more heavily in real-world dating events in the U.S. and Europe.

See full article at Mashable

Parship Survey: Most Germans Are Open to “Living Apart Together” Relationships

Posted on May 7, 2026
Parship logo

PARSHIP – According to a survey by Parship and market research firm INNOFACT AG, 61% of people in Germany can imagine being in a committed relationship while living separately, a model known as “Living Apart Together” (LAT). The survey included 3K people aged 18 to 69. The main reasons people support LAT are having more personal time, keeping their own routines, and maintaining independence. Support is especially strong among people in their 40s and older couples, who say separate homes can reduce everyday conflict and make time together feel more meaningful. The biggest concern is cost. Nearly half of the respondents think maintaining two households is too expensive. Many also worry that living apart could weaken emotional closeness and reduce shared daily experiences.

Bumble Revenue Falls 14% While Profits Jump Ahead of AI Relaunch

Posted on May 7, 2026
Logo of Bumble Inc.

BUMBLE – Bumble’s revenue fell 14% YOY to $212M in Q1 of 2026, while paying users dropped 21% from 4M to 3.2M. Despite the decline in users, the company reported stronger profitability. Net earnings rose 165% to $53M, and adjusted EBITDA increased 28% to $83M, helped by cost cuts and higher spending per paying user. Whitney Wolfe Herd said Bumble is rebuilding the app around a new AI-powered platform designed to improve matching and help users move more quickly to in-person dates. The updated experience is expected to roll out later in 2026.

See full article at Bumble website

Match Group CEO Says Gen Z Finds Traditional Dating Apps Intimidating

Posted on May 7, 2026
Specer Rascoff, CEO of Match Group

BUSINESS INSIDER – Spencer Rascoff said Gen Z finds traditional dating apps intimidating because they feel too structured and “like a job interview.” Speaking during Match Group’s earnings call, he said younger users want low-pressure, more natural ways to meet people. In response, Match Group is adding features focused on real-life interaction. Hinge is testing a “Direct to Date” feature that encourages users to meet immediately after matching, while Tinder has started hosting in-person dating events and added interest-based features like music and astrology modes.

See full article at Business Insider

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Posted on May 7, 2026
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Match Group Q1: Revenue up, Tinder Back to Growth, Hinge Accelerates

Posted on May 6, 2026
Logo of Match Group

REUTERS – Match Group reported a strong Q1 2026, with revenue up to $864M (+4%) and profit rising 42% to $167M. Growth was driven mainly by Hinge, which saw 28% revenue growth, while Tinder showed early signs of recovery. Tinder’s registrations returned to YOY growth in March for the first time in nearly two years, with improving engagement and retention. New features and product changes are starting to stabilize the platform, especially with younger users. Overall, paying users declined 5%, but revenue per user increased. The company is streamlining operations, cutting costs, and investing in higher-growth areas, including a $100M stake in gay dating app Sniffies.

See full article at Reuters

College Student Sues Dating App for $750,000 for Stealing Her Videos for Ads

Posted on May 6, 2026
College Student Sues Dating App for $750,000 for Stealing Her Videos for Ads

DEXERTO – A University of Tennessee student, Kaelyn Lunglhofer, is suing Quantum Communications for $750K, alleging her TikTok video was used without consent in ads for the dating app Meete. The ads, which promoted “friends with benefits,” used her graduation video and were geo-targeted in Knoxville, making it appear she was on the platform. She says the ad caused embarrassment and misrepresented her. The lawsuit argues unauthorized use of her likeness and deceptive marketing.

See full article at Dexerto

Match Group Backs Gay Dating App Sniffies With $100M

Posted on May 6, 2026
Logo of Sniffies

WIRED – Match Group invested $100M in Sniffies, taking a large minority stake with the option to acquire it fully later. The move has unsettled users, who fear the niche, anonymous cruising app could lose its distinct, sex-positive culture under corporate influence. While CEO Blake Gallagher says the partnership will focus on safety and growth without changing the platform’s identity, many users remain skeptical.

See full article at Wired

LoveHuddle Prepares UK Launch With Swipe-Free, AI-Backed Social Platform

Posted on May 6, 2026
LoveHuddle logo

OPW – LoveHuddle is building a swipe-free social and dating platform set to launch in the UK in late summer 2026. The product focuses on real-world interaction, removes traditional paywalls, and uses a one-time verification model to limit bots. At its core is AI-Huddle-Core, a proprietary system that operates in the background to support matching, safety, and user behavior without directly interacting with users. The platform is developed by a solo founder and has already been shortlisted for the Wales StartUp Awards 2026.

Nicki Wake, Widowed in 2020, Built Chapter2dating, Now Used by 25,000 People

Posted on May 6, 2026
Logo of Chapter 2

MYLONDON – Nicki Wake’s husband, Andy, suffered two heart attacks within 3 days in 2017 and required round-the-clock care for the next 3 years before dying in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. His death led to a 3-year period of severe grief. During recovery, she connected with widows’ support networks where the idea of a “second chapter” relationship emerged. After finding that traditional dating apps did not meet her needs, she created two platforms: Chapter2dating for long-term relationships and WidowsFire for casual intimacy. The platforms now have ~25K users across 4 countries (UK, US, Canada, and Australia) and have resulted in multiple relationships, including marriages and children. Nicki herself met her current partner through the platform, and they have been together for 10 months.

See full article at Yahoo! News