Online Personals Watch

Match Group Q1: Revenue up, Tinder Back to Growth, Hinge Accelerates

Posted on May 6, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

Need Some Help?

Posted on May 6, 2026

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Hinge Adds Feature to Determine Interaction Quality

Posted on May 4, 2026

DISTRACTIFY – Hinge has added a “Signals” feature (a beating heart icon) to highlight users who consistently engage in high‑quality behavior, including thoughtful browsing, messaging, and follow‑through. It is designed to identify people who are less likely to ghost. The badge cannot be bought; it is earned through profile completeness, verification, regular use, and positive interaction patterns, and eligibility is reassessed periodically.

See full article at Distractify

Love at First Slide? Single Londoners Turn to PowerPoint

Posted on May 4, 2026

THE INDEPENDENT – Singles are turning to in-person events like “Date My Mate”, where friends present them using PowerPoint pitches to a live audience. The format feels more social and authentic, mixing humour with personal endorsement and reflecting a broader shift away from app‑based dating.

See full article at The Independent

Mark Brooks: Insights on Influencer Marketing Strategies

Posted on May 1, 2026

LTR – Mark Brooks shares key lessons from three years of influencer marketing for dating and social connection businesses, along with examples of integrations for brands like Christian Filipina, Filipina Visa, Positive Singles, and BiCupid. He explains why influencer marketing – especially YouTube – can outperform or complement paid ads by transferring trust, telling stories, normalizing app usage, building brands, and creating compounding evergreen value. Mark outlines a strategy focused on micro-influencers, long-term monthly partnerships (not one-offs), hybrid compensation models, and cross-posting to channels like Instagram and TikTok. He then introduces the Courtland Brooks Influencer System scorecard, detailing best practices such as short on-screen links, unique landing pages, clear calls to action and offers, QR codes, top-of-description links, story relevance, preserving creator personality, avoiding the word “sponsor” in favor of “partner,” and encouraging personal sharing.

[**See the video here on YouTube**]