India Weighs Mandatory KYC, Age Checks for Online Social Platforms

Posted on April 14, 2026
India weighs mandatory KYC, age checks for online social platforms

BIOMETRIC UPDATE – India is considering mandatory KYC for social media, dating, and gaming platforms, which would require users to verify their identity and reduce anonymity. India is also considering age-based restrictions for social media users under 18. The plan would use age verification tools and apply different rules to groups aged 8–12, 12–16, and 16–18, with a law expected later this year. The proposals aim to improve safety around cybercrime, abuse, and deepfakes, but raise concerns about privacy, enforcement, and overregulation.

See full article at Biometric Update

Eight, the Portuguese Dating App, Is Raising a €3M Seed Round

Posted on April 14, 2026
Eight dating app

TNW – Eight is a Portuguese dating app currently raising €3M, with about €256K secured so far. It is currently available in Portugal and the UK. CEO Afonso Simão previously founded Miofar, a fitness brand he grew to ~$1.2M in revenue. Every night between 8 and 9pm, human-verified users log in, browse 30s video introductions from other members, and unlock 8-minute live video calls with anyone they match with. Chat is only enabled after both sides say yes to a call. Human verification is a core feature. 

See full article at TNW

AI Ranks Tinder Photos by Comparing Them and Learning From User Engagement

Posted on April 14, 2026
AI Ranks Tinder Photos by Comparing Them and Learning From User Engagement

LIFE AT TINDER – Tinder uses AI to rank profile photos so the ones most likely to perform well are shown first. The system compares photos against each other and learns from real user interactions, such as which images get more likes. Earlier models focused mainly on visual quality. The newer approach uses Vision-Language Models, which also interpret context – things like social cues, setting, and overall impression. This results in more accurate rankings and better outcomes, such as higher engagement and more matches.

See full article at Life at Tinder

Pure Dating App Is Launching in London and Paris

Posted on April 14, 2026
Pure campaign

PURE – After a US campaign in NYC and LA, the safety-first dating app for Gen Z is launching in Europe. PURE is rolling out a six-week campaign across London and Paris focused on real-world experiences and local activations. Pure closed 2025 with $100M in annual gross revenue, 95% YOY registration growth, and 46% revenue growth. The app now ranks among the top 8 grossing lifestyle apps in the US, the UK, and France. The product positions itself as an alternative to swipe-based apps, focusing on safety, privacy, and more intentional connections, with features like verification tools, disappearing chats, and AI moderation.

See full article at Pure website

Tinder Introduces Mandatory Video Verification in Singapore to Combat Scams

Posted on April 9, 2026
Tinder Face Check

STRAITS TIMES – Tinder now requires new users in Singapore to complete a video selfie verification (“Face Check”) to confirm identity and reduce bots, fake profiles, and scams. Existing users are only asked to verify if flagged for suspicious activity. The feature checks that profile photos match the user, detects duplicate or banned accounts, and blocks AI-generated content. In markets where it is live, exposure to bad actors has dropped by 60%, and 80% of banned users in the US are now caught within a day.

See full article at Straits Times

44% of Gen Z Have Never Been in a Relationship

Posted on April 9, 2026
relationship

RELEVANT MAGAZINE – A 2024 report from the Survey Center on American Life found 44% of Gen Z men reported no relationship experience at all during adolescence. Pew has also found that among never-married single adults under 40, ~42% say they’ve never been in a committed romantic relationship. Debra Fileta, a licensed professional counselor and relationship expert, says part of the problem is that modern dating has trained people to think about relationships less like connection and more like shopping. “The focus is so much on what I can get rather than who am I standing alone? How healthy am I standing alone?,” she says. Debra recommends building a strong and honest community, focusing on emotional and mental health, considering therapy, developing self-awareness, using journaling, and addressing unhealthy patterns.

See full article at Relevant Magazine

Joey AI Uses Voice Calls Instead of Profiles to Match Users

Posted on April 9, 2026
Logo of Joey

LA BUSINESS JOURNAL – Joey AI is an AI-driven matchmaking service that removes profiles and swiping. Users call a phone number and speak with an AI assistant that asks questions about their habits, personality, and lifestyle. The system analyzes these responses and later connects users via text if it identifies a strong match.

See full article at LA Business Journal

Announcing LTR 51 With Michael O’Sullivan (Founder of HubPeople) and Mark Brooks (CEO of Courtland Brooks)

Posted on April 7, 2026

OPW – Edition 51 of the LTR (Love, Tech, Relationships) online experience will be on Wednesday, April 15th, at 12 pm (noon) EST (New York time).

In this edition, Mark Brooks will interview Michael O’Sullivan about his new book, Dating App: How to Build, Survive and Thrive in the World’s Most Human Tech Industry. The conversation will explore the realities of building and operating a dating business, from managing churn and user acquisition to navigating fraud, payments, and regulation in one of the most complex consumer tech sectors.

After that, Mark will present The State of the Dating Industry in 2026 – Turning the Tide, sharing key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry today.

If you hold a full-time leadership role at an online dating, social discovery, or matchmaking company, you are welcome to join LTR events for free.

Why attend LTR?

🏠 Flexible: Attend from anywhere – no travel required.
⏰ Convenient: Live session. 90 minutes.
💰 Free: No registration fees.

See the LTR Edition 51 speakers and invite page here.

This event is kindly sponsored by HubPeople, LeadThink, and Matchmaker.com.

Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com to RSVP.

Event poster featuring the LTR US logo, with images of speakers Michael O'Sullivan, founder of HubPeople.ai, and Mark Brooks, CEO of Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com, against a blurred background of an audience.

China’s Milian Files for IPO as Yidui Dating App Drives Growth

Posted on April 7, 2026
Yidui screenshot

BAMBOO WORKS – Chinese company Milian Technology has filed for an IPO, driven by its app Yidui, which uses live three-way video chats where a paid host helps two users interact and keep conversations going. The platform relies on hosts as matchmakers and generates revenue mainly from virtual gifts and in-app interactions (98.8%), not subscriptions. In China, the online dating and social market reached 22.6B yuan ($3.1B) in 2024 with ~280M users by mid-2025. Milian reported 4.12B yuan ($570M) in revenue (+74% YoY) and 519M yuan (~$72M) in profit, with Yidui contributing 81.7% of revenue. The app had 4.8M monthly active users.

See full article at Bamboo Works

AI Disrupts Online Dating as happn Pushes for Authenticity

Posted on April 7, 2026
Logo of the dating app Happn

THE AI JOURNAL – happn says AI is reshaping online dating by enabling fake profiles, automated conversations, and even AI-driven relationships, raising concerns about authenticity. The company reports that 79% of UK users would use AI for tasks like messaging or date planning, while opinions on AI relationships are divided, with 41% accepting them and 43% uncomfortable. AI is also making fraud more scalable, as bots can mimic users and build trust over time. In response, happn is introducing tools to report AI-generated profiles and requiring users to commit to human interaction to maintain trust.

See full article at The AI Journal