Category: Reporters – Lisa Bonos

Dating Apps Are Using Images From the Siege to Ban Rioters’ Accounts

Posted on January 19, 2021

Tinder bannedWASHINGTON POST – Jan 18 – Bumble, Tinder and others are freezing out rioters with help from law enforcement and, in some cases, their own photos. Other app users have taken matters into their own hands by striking up conversations with potential rioters and relaying their information to the FBI. Some onlookers have celebrated the viral hunt as a creative form of digital comeuppance. But some privacy advocates said the episode reveals a worrying truth about pervasive public surveillance and the opaque connections between private companies and law enforcement. Both Bumble and Match Group said they were working to remove users known to be involved in the Capitol siege from their platforms.

by Drew Harwell, Lisa Bonos & Craig Timberg
See full article at Washington Post

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More Than Half of Young People in America Don’t Have a Romantic Partner

Posted on March 21, 2019

WASHINGTON POST – Mar 21 – Just over half of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 (51%) said they do not have a steady romantic partner, according to data from the General Social Survey released this week. That 2018 figure is up significantly from 33% in 2004 – the lowest figure since the question was first asked in 1986 and up from 45% in 2016. Women are having fewer children, and they're having them later in life. The median age of first marriage is increasing. And according to a 2017 report from the Pew Research Center, among those who have never married but are open to it, most say a major reason is because they haven't found the right person.

Wp article surveyby Lisa Bonos & Emily Guskin
See full article at Washington Post

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Tinder’s New Ad Campaign Doesn’t Want Users to Find Someone

Posted on December 14, 2018

Tinder adWASHINGTON POST – Dec 13 – In the most recent Tinder and OkCupid ads, there's little mention of love or partnership. The apps are touting the joy of meeting new people yet remaining unattached. A decade ago, commercials for Match.com, eHarmony and others focused on reducing the stigma of online dating. They featured smiling, happy couples gushing about how lucky they are to have found each other. "We are pro-couples; we want people to meet people," says Jenny Campbell, Tinder's CMO. But, she adds, "We also want to be there when you're out there exploring."

by Lisa Bonos
See full article at Washington Post

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Millennials Are Taking Their Get-out-the-vote Efforts To Tinder.

Posted on November 5, 2018

VoteWASHINGTON POST – Nov 3 – Emily Myers has been kicked off Tinder. She was trying to register people to vote. But sending spam, campaigning or nudging people toward external websites is not allowed on Tinder. And after several days of swiping and messaging men that they should visit Vote.org to check on their registration status, Myers discovered her Tinder account was locked. Discussing political opinions with a potential mate "used to be so unsexy," says Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University. "Now it's almost uncool to talk about unpolitical things. If you're not voting and you don't have that 'I voted' sticker, it's embarrassing." It could also keep you from getting a date. Voter turnout in midterm elections is typically low, especially among young people. In 2014, ~20% of Americans ages 18 to 29 cast a ballot, according to data from CIRCLE. For the upcoming midterms, CIRCLE notes that 34% of 18-to-24-year-olds say they're "extremely likely" to vote.

by Lisa Bonos
See full article at Washington Post

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The League Is The Harvard Of Dating Apps

Posted on October 29, 2017

Theleague logo smallWASHINGTON POST – Oct 26 – It's difficult to get into the League which has real people vetting its applicants via their Facebook and LinkedIn profiles. The app is now live in 30 cities across the country. The app founder explained what people can do to get off the wait list and other secrets behind the selective dating app.

  1. Don't leave your "About Me" blank.
  2. Once you're in, clear, crisp photos showing a well-rounded life is key.
  3. Include photos of several parts of your life 
  4. Include multiple interests in your profile.

by Lisa Bonos
See full article at Washington Post

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Summarized by the Courtland Brooks team

How Much People Spend On Their Dating Life

Posted on April 14, 2017

Dating-costs-jpgWASHINGTON POST – Apr 13 – The average unmarried American spent $1,596 on their dating life in 2016, according to a Match survey of 5,500 singles around the country. In Washington, it was $1,788; in New York, $2,069. This average includes bar tabs and dating site memberships, but also haircuts, manicures and new date outfits; entrance fees to dating events and money spent on matchmakers. Men spent more ($1,855 on average) than women ($1,423).

by Lisa Bonos
See full article at Washington Post

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Summarized by the Courtland Brooks team

Hinge Is Bashing Swipe Apps

Posted on October 5, 2016

Hinge dating apocalypse website screenshotWASHINGTON POST – Oct 3 – On Hinge's Dating Apocalypse site, visitors can click through stats about swipe apps like Hinge and Tinder. For example: "81% of Hinge users have never found a long-term relationship on any swiping app"; "only 1 in 500 swipes on Hinge turn into phone numbers exchanged"; and "4 out of 5 Hinge users can't recall the first name of their last right swipe." An FAQ on Hinge's website says "we realized the world of mindless swiping was ruining romance." That's pretty strong language for an app that has been part of the swipe machine since its early days. Hinge's new version for more relationship-minded is set to debut Oct 11th.

by Lisa Bonos
See full article at Washington Post

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Summarized by the Courtland Brooks team