Michael O’Sullivan’s “Dating App” Book Now Available

Posted on July 3, 2026
Dating App by Michael O'Sullivan

OPW – Michael O’Sullivan, founder of HubPeople, has launched Dating App, a new book focused on what it really takes to build and run a dating business. This isn’t a typical “how to build an app” guide. It’s a practical look at the realities of the dating industry, covering how to operate, scale, and survive in a highly competitive market, based on O’Sullivan’s decades of experience working with global dating platforms. The book also includes interviews with six industry operators, sharing firsthand insights from building and growing real dating businesses. The book is available now.

Mark Brooks: I highly recommend this book to anybody in the dating industry and digital professionals. There is much nuance and insider information in this book.

Match Group Research Highlights How Gen Z Approaches Dating

Posted on July 2, 2026
Gen Z

MATCH GROUP – Match Group has released new research examining how Gen Z approaches dating and relationships. The study found that 80% of Gen Z believe they will find true love, while 62% are more comfortable flirting online than in person. According to the research, young adults are seeking more meaningful connections rather than more matches, with 81% preferring to get to know someone slowly and 67% of dating app users aged 18–29 looking for a sense of belonging.

See full article at Match Group

Grindr Stock Soars on Hopes of New Products From the Dating App

Posted on July 2, 2026
Grindr

BARRON’S – Grindr shares rose after Morgan Stanley upgraded the company to Overweight and raised its price target from $15 to $18. Analyst Nathan Feather cited confidence in Grindr’s upcoming products, including its Woodwork telehealth brand and the premium Edge subscription tier, saying they could improve monetization.

See full article at Barron’s

Match Group Gives Employees AI Budgets With Spending Limits

Posted on July 2, 2026
Match Group

BUSINESS INSIDER – Match Group has introduced AI budgets for employees as it expands AI use across the company. According to CFO Steve Bailey, each department receives an AI spending allocation that is tracked through a dashboard, with employees required to justify requests to exceed their budget. Bailey said the average software engineer spends $600 per month on AI tokens. Match Group initially budgeted $5M for AI in 2026 but now expects to spend ~$10M following CEO Spencer Rascoff’s push to make the company more AI-native. Bailey also said the company plans to slow hiring while it evaluates how AI will reshape its workforce.

See full article at Business Insider

Hinge Launches European ‘All We Need Is Us’ Campaign

Posted on July 2, 2026

HINGE – Hinge has launched a new European campaign, All We Need Is Us, as part of its ongoing Designed to be Deleted platform. The campaign highlights the small, everyday moments that build relationships, such as cooking, running errands, or spending quiet time together. It features real couples who met on Hinge alongside handcrafted Hingie mascots placed in everyday situations.

See full article at Hinge website

South Korea Dating Market: Growth Driven by Rising Singles and App Adoption

Posted on July 1, 2026
South Korea dating market

DAXUE CONSULTING – South Korea’s online dating market is growing despite declining marriage rates and low fertility (0.75 births per woman in 2024). The market reached $264M in 2024 and is projected to grow at a 7.5% CAGR through 2035. Singlehood has risen sharply, with unmarried women aged 30-34 increasing from 1.4% in 1970 to 30% by 2010. Surveys show 29% of men cite lack of opportunities as the main reason for being single, while 28% of women cite high standards and 23% lack of opportunities. Local apps like Noon Date succeed by offering curated matches (e.g., four per day) to improve quality, while Tinder has grown by repositioning as a social and friendship-focused app.

See full article at Daxue Consulting

Online Dating Jobs Listing Update – June 2026

Posted on June 30, 2026
job offers

OPW – An update to the online dating jobs listing is live here.

Below, see a couple of this month’s most interesting offers:
Bumble – Associate Director, Corporate Communications
Ditto AI – Head of Marketing
FFN – Director of Finance and Accounting Operations
Hinge – Director of AI, Dating Outcomes
Hornet – Brazil Country Manager
Match Group – Director, Equity Accounting
Matrimony – Head of Information Technology Operations
Muzz – Head of Safety and Support
Social Discovery Ventures – Deputy CTO
Tinder – Sr. Director Marketing Southern Europe
Together Light – Head of Marketing

Do you have an idating industry job offer that is not included? Please, send it to tips@onlinepersonalswatch.com and we will add it to the list.

Yeet: The AI Dating App for Gen Z Built to Save Users From Bad Chats

Posted on June 29, 2026
Yeet

CNET – Yeet is a new AI-powered dating app for Gen Z that removes swiping altogether. Instead, users upload photos and chat with an AI assistant called Yeeta, which analyzes their images to build a profile, then selects potential matches and helps guide conversations with suggested topics, questions, and games. According to co-founder Penny Chen, the goal is to help users have better conversations rather than replace them.

See full article at CNet

Known Builds AI Matchmaking Around Voice Interviews

Posted on June 29, 2026
Known logo

LOS ANGELES TIMES – Known is an AI dating app that replaces swiping with a 15-minute AI voice interview about a user’s upbringing, personality, past relationships and dating goals before recommending matches. One user said the experience was more efficient than traditional dating apps but felt AI could not capture the human side of dating. Founded in 2025 by CEO Celeste Amadon, Known charges users per date. The company has recently hosted an AI-matched dating event in San Francisco. The startup has raised ~$10M and plans to expand to San Diego in July. The growing interest in AI-powered dating also includes former Hinge CEO Justin McLeod, who is developing a new AI dating app called Overtone.

See full article at Los Angeles Times

Bumble Hires Morgan Stanley to Explore Sale

Posted on June 29, 2026
Bumble logo

REUTERS – Bumble is exploring a potential sale, according to anonymous sources. The company has hired Morgan Stanley to advise on the process, although no deal is certain and Bumble could remain independent. The move comes as Bumble has struggled with declining paying users and slowing revenue growth. Whitney Wolfe Herd returned as CEO in 2025.

See full article at Reuters