Online Personals Watch: News on the Online Dating Industry and Business

Gay Apps Join Forces to Fight Online Insults

CALIFORNIAHEALTHLINE - Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC), an organization in the San Francisco Bay Area focused on HIV and STD prevention, has launched an effort to boost niceness on gay apps. Through surveys and focus groups, BHOC asked ~5K users of nine gay apps how the sites could support better online behavior related to race, appearance, HIV status, age, disability, gender identity and other factors. It also sought advice on technical improvements the apps could make, such as offering users greater flexibility in conducting searches for contacts. "We've had a non-bullying policy since day one," said David Lesage, marketing and social media director for Adam4Adam.

by David Tuller
See full article at California Healthline

See the top news on Adam4Adam

Gay Dating Apps Join Health Experts to Fight Hate Speech and Racism

PRESS RELEASE - Building Healthy Online Communities, a consortium of HIV and STD prevention organizations, has released a report with the results of its "NiceAF" campaign's research to combat online hate speech and racism. The report contains recommendations for apps and sites to take, based on input from ~5.5K users. BHOC worked with Adam4Adam, Daddyhunt, dudesnude, Grindr, GROWLr, Jack'd, Manhunt, SCRUFF, and POZ Personals to recruit its users to share their ideas. BHOC asked users to suggest and then rate a number of steps that apps should take to reduce discrimination and hate speech. The full report is available at NiceAF.org.

Queer Dating Apps Partner for NiceAF Campaign

PRESS RELEASE - June 3 - In the first ever cross-site collaboration of this kind, Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC) and dating apps for gay and bisexual men (Adam4Adam, Daddyhunt, Grindr, POZ Personals, SCRUFF and Jack'd) have teamed up to make their online communities kinder for everyone with the NiceAF.org campaign. The team behind NiceAF.org has compiled a number of videos featuring men telling stories of how they keep the online experience NiceAF. Starting June 3rd, the collaborating apps will invite their users to vote for the video that does the best job of embodying NiceAF's mission of promoting nicer, kinder interactions between users.

Interview With BHOC Director Dan Wohlfeiler

OPW INTERVIEW - Oct 29 - TellYourPartner.org is a new STD prevention tool launched by Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC). It allows users to anonymously text or email a sexual partner that they might be at risk of an STD. We have interviewed BHOC director Dan Wohlfeiler about how dating apps can help stop the spread of record high STD infections among their users.

What dating apps have signed up to assist?
Grindr includes the link to TYP in its sexual health FAQs. Daddyhunt is currently designing new reminders to get regular sexual health check-ups, and what tests those should include. GROWLr, Grindr, Adam4Adam, and Daddyhunt have incorporated suggestions on profile design related to sexual health options.

How are they working with TYP, and BHOC?
BHOC works closely with apps to help customize HIV and STD prevention strategies. We've worked with them to design profile options that help users exchange information about whether or not they are taking Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), have an undetectable viral load, and/or prefer to use condoms. This helps users make informed choices, and importantly, promotes norms about taking active steps to promote sexual health. BHOC has worked with apps to help users sign up for automatic testing reminders at their choice of three or six-month intervals. Based on app owners' requests, BHOC also developed an extensive sexual health information resource guide, and continues to update it regularly. We've also worked with apps to help inform users about outbreaks. We're also partnering closely with Grindr to promote home-based testing. We have also partnered with apps to produce public service announcements, and are developing a clearinghouse of campaigns for public health organizations to share. This will reduce their need to invest in developing new creative, freeing up more funds for ad placement.

What would you like to see dating apps support TYP and BHOC?
One key strategy is to regularly and consistently promote getting tested, and let people know about TYP and the other resources that BHOC has available. Our research shows that app users look favorably on apps that take proactive steps to support their health, so it's a win-win for the industry and for public health. Profiles should have options to enable users to exchange clear information about sexual health strategies. Dating apps can also show support by promoting our digital anti-stigma campaign, NiceAF.org, and by offering discounted ads for public health departments and non-profit organizations, all of which have extremely limited budgets.

How is BHOC funded at this stage?
BHOC has been funded by Gilead Sciences, Inc., Google, Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, and private donations. Additionally, our public health partners and apps have dedicated considerable time and energy in helping obtain and provide input from their members and users that guide our work. We're particularly grateful to those apps that have made changes in their platforms, such as profile options and testing reminders. They serve a life-saving role in the same way as banking curves on a freeway reduces automobile accidents. Once they're in place, they provide a huge benefit to the health of the entire community.

Grindr And Other Dating Apps Are Discussing Ways To Add STD Notifications

MASHABLE - May 31 - Grindr and other gay dating apps are exploring ways to add the ability for people who test positive for an STD to notify partners using the app. Jack Harrison-Quintana, director of Grindr for Equality said, "Grindr works very closely with Building Healthy Online Communities on several initiatives including STD related notifications." Grindr recently launched several features around HIV testing reminders and HIV status sharing. The app Adam4Adam already includes a link on its Health Resources page to "STD notification services for partners and tricks," which directs to InSpot.org. Daddyhunt plans to release a new version of its app this summer that will include an option to log the date of a user's last STD test, and receive testing reminders every three months. Daddyhunt's General Manager, Casey Crawford, said that it is also in preliminary discussions about including partner STD notification resources as part of an upcoming user interface redesign.

by Rachel Kraus
See full article at Mashable

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Summarized by the IDEA team

BHOC Launches Website To Improve Hookup Apps & Public Health Interaction

BETABLOG - July 7 - Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC), a coalition of SF AIDS Foundation and other leading HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention organizations, recently launched a new website with the goal of improving the health and experience of gay men on hookup apps like Grindr, Scruff, Adam4Adam, Growlr and Daddyhunt. The site offers HIV and STI educators tips and information on how to reach app users with good sexual health information. The BHOC team recently partnered with the dating site Daddyhunt to produce a series of web videos and public service announcements featuring storylines about PrEP, STIs and HIV treatment. The series won "Best LGBTQ Film" at the Top Shorts Online Film Festival 2017.

by Emily Newman
See full article at BetaBlog

Summarized by the Courtland Brooks team

Indonesian Police Wants To Ban Gay Dating App

TOWLEROAD - Sep 9 - Indonesian police are hoping to ban 18 gay dating apps, including Grindr, Scruff, and Adam4Adam after a pedophilia ring was found to have used gay apps to 'pimp' teenage boys. Previously, Indonesia banned gay emojis from messaging apps in the country.

by Sean Mandell
See full article at Towleroad

Summarized by the Courtland Brooks team

Internet Dating Industry Weekly News Nov 19th, 2009 - 4 mins

This is the news for the week of November 6th through November 12th, 2009. We hope you enjoy the new weekly news format. Here is the news we covered for this week:

• October Online Dating Rankings from Hitwise
• Earnings Reports from Spark Networks and Meetic
• Number of Senior Online Daters on the Rise
• Interview with Steve Odom, founder of Gelato

Niche Dating Sites Grow Steadily As Mainstream Ones Flail

TECH CRUNCH -- Apr 24 -- In the internet dating space, bigger is not always best. According to the latest U.S. numbers from Hitwise, the top niche dating sites are steadily gaining market share while their big mainstream counterparts stagnate. In March 2008, the top 5 overall sites held 7% less market share than they did in 2007 (Plentyoffish and Singlesnet were the only sites to buck this trend individually). Meanwhile, the top sites (Adam4Adam, Manhunt, Gay.com, BlackPeopleMeet, BlackSingles, BlackChristianPeopleMeet, ChristianMingle, JDate, and ChristianCafe.com) from the top five major niche dating categories made considerable gains. The biggest niche in terms of total traffic is casual dating, which consists of sites like Fling, AdultFriendFinder, and SexSearch. While the top 10 mainstream dating sites gained only 0.01% of total Internet traffic over the past year, the top three casual adult sites gained 0.07%. That's a hefty 56% increase in the traffic. (Authored by Mark Brooks)
FULL ARTICLE @ TECH CRUNCH 

The Gay Man's Search For Sex And Love Online

GAY WIRED -- Apr 17 -- According to the latest research from the LOGO Channel, 48% of gay men are looking for "love" on line. In the gay world, looks and hookups often seem much more important than actual compatibility. Manhunt.net may be known to most as an online bathhouse, but it still markets itself as a dating service. Adam4Adam.com, is a little less overt about being a hook up site. They allow members to write a profile about likes and dislikes and post pictures that leave very little to the imagination. Love can be found on the Web, to be sure... but as these Websites show, sometimes, gay men seem to be going for the easy out.

The full article was originally published at Gay Wired, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Say, don't forget myPartner.com! myPartner is more serious and long term focused. (Disclosure: myPartner is a client of Courtland Brooks)   

See all posts on myPartner

As Gay Media Brings In Business, PlanetOut Struggles

DOW JONES NEWSWIRE -- June 28 -- Though corporate interest in the gay dollar may be on the rise, Planet Out struggles. Their stock price is down from the IPO price of $9 (Oct. 2004) to $1.30 today. The company faces stiff competition from other media outlets, and its online business and recent acquisitions, such as RSVP Vacations, aren't performing as expected. The company is now considering strategic options, says CEO Karen Magee. She won't say whether the company is for sale, but said it may sell its adult entertainment business. PlanetOut faces stiff competition in the gay media market. Although the company doesn't own a TV network, Viacom Logo network, NBC's Bravo and Here! Networks all have Web operations. Various blogs and lifestyle sites have also popped up, like AfterEllen.com and AfterElton.com, newcomer GLEE and Queerty, social-networking sites Manhunt.net, Adam4Adam.com and OurChart.com.

Gay Dating Site Rankings

MEDIA LIFE -- Mar 27 -- U.S. sites include Gay.com, Gaydar and Manhunt. Gay.com has British, French, Italian and Latin American operations, while ManHunt recently rolled out across Europe. Gaydar began in London and is now worldwide. Gay sites continue to see strong growth in their U.S. audiences, 18% YOY for February 2007 (Hitwise). The real opportunities are overseas. Domestically, visitors to gay sites spend nearly twice as much time per visit, 21 minutes, versus 11 minutes spent on all web sites (Hitwise). Traffic to gay sites is 82% male. The largest age group is 35-44s, 29% of visits, slightly older than the general internet population.  Out In America claims 7 million uniques a month. Gay.com, part of PlanetOut, claims 5 million uniques. 9% of visitors to the gay and lesbian category were at MySpace before they went to a gay and lesbian site, according to Hitwise.

Gay site traffic - Share of Visits - w/e 3/17/07
1. Adam4Adam - 17.90%
2. ManHunt.net - 16.78%
3. Gay.com - 16.43%
4. Gay.com Personals - 9.51%
5. Out Personals - 8.60%
6. Downelink.com - 5.75%
7. Guys4men - 2.81%
8. World Gay Men - 1.56%
9. Dlist.com - 1.35%
10. BoysGo.com - 1.30%

The full article was originally published at Media Life, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Patrick Perrine, CEO of MyPartnerPerfect, is doing some interesting work in the field of gay matchmaking and gay personality profiling.

Eight Social Networking Sites for Men Who Love Men

TECHCRUNCH BLOG -- Oct 12 -- Many people prefer networks set up for people they can relate to. Just as there’s a wide diversity of gay men in the world, there may well be ample room for a variety of gay male social networking sites. These appear to be the most talked about gay male social networking sites online.

• Jake - Very British. 30,000 members. Real world events. Encourages users to advertise their own businesses and directly monetize their involvement with the site. Paid accounts are £10 per month and allow members to access the dating section and a number of other things.
• ManJam - Probably the most widely discussed. One of many similarly branded copycat sites from JuxMedia Ltd. Offers classifieds. Paid accounts are $20 per month.
• Ohlalaguys - A rebranded version of JuxMedia’s ManJam with even worse site navigation. See also Bentlads.
• Lovetastic - “Finally, gay personals that treat you like a person.” Brings together husbands. Paid accounts start at $6 per month. In some ways it’s got more class than any of them. Nude or shirtless pictures are prohibited.
• Connexion - LGBT online networking with a .org suffix. In addition to dating and events organizing the site focuses on low level political activity and news.
• OutEverywhere - A paid service for men and women in select countries around the world. Very text intensive with unbearable site navigation. An emphasis on promoting real world events and venues. Memberships are £19.95 for 6 months with a 28 free trial period.
• DList - Straightforward social networking site with a good feature set. Blogs, music player on profile pages. It’s ad supported without premium accounts.
• BigJock - Will launch its full featured version on next month. Hot or Not picture rating component. Will be free and ad supported.

FULL ARTICLE @ TECHCRUNCH BLOG

Mark Brooks: Gaydar.co.uk, Manhunt.net, Adam4adam and the risque Outpersonals are leaders of the gay dating space. We'll see social networking space follow very much the same trajectory as internet dating in that it will 'niche out.' Sites like CollectiveX and Affinity Circles offer custom social networks.