Match Group Bans AI Agents From Tinder and Hinge

Posted on November 5, 2026
Match Group Bans AI Agents From Tinder and Hinge

MASHABLE – Match Group has banned AI agents from reviewing profiles or messaging matches on behalf of users on Tinder and Hinge. CEO Spencer Rascoff said people should still be choosing and talking to potential matches themselves, rather than handing the process over to bots. Match Group is continuing to use AI within its own products, including Tinder’s Chemistry and upcoming Missed Connections features, and Hinge’s Convo Starters. Its Singles in America survey found half of singles would not use AI for dating, although 37% said someone using it would not be a dealbreaker.

See full article at Mashable

Kelleher International Names Jennifer Wills Sole CEO

Posted on November 5, 2026
Kelleher International Jennifer Wills

PRNEWSWIRE – Kelleher International has named Jennifer Wills sole CEO after previously serving as Co-CEO and President. Wills joined the luxury matchmaking firm in 2016 and will now oversee its operations, global team, and growth strategy as Kelleher marks its 40th anniversary. The company is planning several new offerings for 2027, including a matchmaking intelligence platform built around decades of relationship data, portable verified client identity, and new membership options designed to expand access to its global network. Kelleher currently operates across more than 18 cities, serving high-net-worth clients through human-curated matchmaking.

See full article at PRNewswire

Dating App Roundtable Discusses What Still Works in Growth and Monetization

Posted on November 5, 2026
How do dating apps make money

FUNNEL FOX – A FunnelFox roundtable with former Tinder CPO Ravi Mehta, former Tinder and Grindr monetization lead Shawn Gong, and Reev founder May Ku looked at what still works in dating app growth and monetization. The panel argued that dating apps should focus on reducing “bad churn” rather than worrying about users who leave after finding a relationship, and warned that too many paywalls can hurt both revenue and retention. Gong said Grindr increased revenue after making some low-converting paid features free, while Mehta said dating startups should build a strong user network before focusing on monetization. Tinder’s weekly subscription became one of its most popular products, particularly among younger women, reflecting the fact that many users do not expect to stay on a dating app for months.

See full article at Funnel Fox

Get Online Personals Watch by Email

Posted on November 5, 2026
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OPW – We’re dedicated to providing you with quality daily executive summaries and intelligence. Subscribe here, and send to a friend. We find news and info that will help make you smarter and help you make better informed decisions. Online Personals Watch has been run by the Courtland Brooks team since 2004.

Bumble Reports Q3 2026 Results Ahead of $1.3B Acquisition

Posted on November 5, 2026
Bumble Inc. logo

OPW – Bumble reported Q3 2026 revenue of $207.1M, down 16% YOY. Total paying users fell 14% to 3.08M, including 1.99M on Bumble and 1.09M across Badoo and Other. Net earnings declined to $31.6M from $51.6M a year earlier. The results were disclosed through an SEC filing as Bumble moves toward its $1.3B acquisition by Ithaca Holdings. Shareholders have approved the deal, which remains subject to regulatory clearance.

Announcing LTR on November 5: Viktor Cindric on Dating UX

Posted on November 4, 2026

OPW – The next Love, Tech & Relationships (LTR) session takes place on November 5 at 11:45 AM EST (New York time), featuring Viktor Cindric, Director of UX, Conversion & Optimization at Courtland Brooks. Viktor, who has worked in the dating industry since 2012, will share results from a series of tests he has run, their outcomes, and insights dating apps and sites can use to improve user experience.

Session by invitation only. Register here to apply for the invitation list.

Thanks to our sponsors: HubPeople, InnerVue and LeadThink.

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Apple Sets 18+ Minimum Age Rating for Dating Apps

Posted on November 3, 2026
Appstore

APPLE – Apple is introducing new App Store age-rating rules for dating and location-sharing apps from November 16. Developers will need to declare whether their apps include dating, romantic, or virtual companion features, with apps in the Dating and Relationships category receiving a minimum 18+ rating. All existing apps must complete the new declarations by January 12, 2027. Brazil will apply an A18 rating to dating apps and A16 to apps with shared-location features.

See full article at Apple

Gen Z Singaporeans More Open to Government-Backed FirstDate Matchmaking

Posted on November 3, 2026
Promotional image for FirstDate initiative

YOUGOV – YouGov research found that single Gen Z Singaporeans are significantly more open to the government-backed FirstDate matchmaking service than Millennials, with 49% saying they would likely use it compared with 28% of Millennials. Verified identities were the most desired feature, cited by 42%, followed by matching based on shared values and interests. Overall, 44% of Singaporeans support government-backed matchmaking, rising to 56% among Gen Z. The survey also found independence, career ambitions, and difficulty finding compatible partners are key reasons younger Singaporeans are remaining single.

See full article at YouGov

Match Group Q3 Financial Results

Posted on November 3, 2026
Logo of Match Group

MATCH GROUP – Match Group released its Q3 2026 results, reporting revenue of $891M, down 3% YOY. Net income increased 8% to $174M. Tinder generated $480M in revenue, down 2%, while Hinge grew 19% to $220.6M. Revenue from the E&E division declined 20% to $176M. Hinge is testing a lower-priced subscription aimed particularly at women and price-sensitive users, offering additional filters and custom location boundaries. The company also plans to launch Hinge in Japan in 2027 and continues to target $1B in annual revenue next year. Tinder’s daily active users returned to YOY growth in Sep for the first time in three and a half years. The app is improving its matching algorithms and expanding features including Double Date, Events and Groups, while preparing new monetisation initiatives for 2027. Match Group is also prioritising Upward, BLK, HER and Match within its smaller-brand portfolio, with other brands supported through shared technology teams.

See full article at Match Group website