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

New L.A. Dating Apps Challenge Swipe Culture With Real-Life Meetups

LOS ANGELES TIMES - With younger daters losing interest in traditional swipe-based apps, new Los Angeles startups like First Round's on Me, Summer, Lox Club, and Feeld are creating alternatives focused on in-person interactions and community-based dating. These apps move away from endless swiping, instead encouraging real-life meetups and targeting niche communities. While large platforms like Tinder and Bumble still lead the market, their slowed growth has allowed smaller apps to attract users looking for fresh dating experiences.

by Caroline Petrow-Cohen
See full article at Los Angeles Times

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Dating App Feeld Launches a Magazine Exploring Modern Relationships

THE ATLANTIC - Feeld, a polyamory dating app, has introduced a magazine called AFM (A Feeld Magazine), exploring topics like sex, relationships, and modern dating culture. The magazine features contributions from prominent writers and aims to offer creative, thoughtful content. While tech companies often use such publications for marketing, AFM is seen as both a cultural venture and an ad for Feeld. The magazine doesn't plan to generate revenue directly, but its creators hope it will help revitalize the dating experience by offering a fresh perspective on modern relationships.

by Kaitlyn Tiffany
See full article at The Atlantic

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Dating Apps Revive In-Person Connections With Real-World Events

SLATE - Dating apps are reviving in-person connections with events like Tinder's Chaotic Singles Parties and Ice Cream Socials in cities such as Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, offering real-world mingling opportunities. Bumble hosts Bumble IRL, providing offline meetups, while Feeld organizes Feeld Socials for face-to-face interaction. Match Group's Yuzu app also runs speed-dating events, aiming to move beyond digital swiping and foster more personal connections. These initiatives respond to growing dissatisfaction with purely online dating, helping singles reconnect in real life.

by Magdalene Taylor
See full article at Slate

Mark Brooks: Singles events on dating apps are window dressing and a means of generating buzz if they're done exceedingly well. They are a pain to manage and execute well but should be in every dating app's arsenal to show to the world that they can, indeed, draw a crowd.

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New Dating Apps Target Gen Z, Tackling Fatigue and Toxicity

ADWEEK - New dating apps are emerging to address dissatisfaction with legacy platforms like Tinder and Bumble, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials. These apps aim to offer alternatives to combat "dating app fatigue" and improve the user experience. Dating app After promotes thoughtful connections and discourages ghosting. Better in Person emphasizes real-life meetups and accountability for toxic behavior. Feeld supports polyamory and other non-traditional relationships. Archer, targeting queer men, blends dating with community building, incorporating safety features like selfie verification.

by Brittaney Kiefer
See full article at AdWeek

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Feeld Dating App Security Flaws Exposed Users' Private Data

THE GUARDIAN - Feeld, a UK-based dating app for alternative relationships, had security flaws that could have exposed users' messages, private photos, and profile details. Cybersecurity firm Fortbridge found these vulnerabilities, which allowed hackers with basic skills to access and change user data. Feeld says it fixed the issues within two months of being notified in March and claims no evidence of a data breach. Feeld did not inform users or regulators to avoid attracting hackers. However, they may face further investigation if any data was accessed.

by Rob Davies
See full article at The Guardian

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'Throuples' Dating App Feeld Almost Doubles Turnover to £39.5M

THE GUARDIAN - Feeld, a dating app for non-monogamous and alternative relationships, nearly doubled its turnover in 2023, reaching £39.5M, up from £20.7M the previous year. Profits rose to £5.5M. Founded by Dimo Trifonov and Ana Kirova in 2014, the app has expanded globally, with £33M of its revenue now coming from outside the UK. Kirova became CEO in December 2023 and led a rebranding and technology upgrade. Ownership changes saw Kirova's stake increase to nearly 24% while Trifonov's share fell below 50%. Feeld now employs ~50 people.

by Rob Davies
See full article at The Guardian

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Feeld and The Kinsey Institute: The State of Dating

YOUTUBE - In this livestream discussion, Kinsey Institute fellow, Dr. Justin Lehmiller, and Sy Dusk, Product Analyst at Feeld, explore the latest research findings on Gen Z's unique approach to sexuality and relationships.

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

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Dating App Feeld Supports Gen Z's Shift to Non-Monogamous Relationships

DAILYSTAR.CO.UK - The dating app Feeld is gaining popularity among Gen Z as they move away from traditional monogamous relationships and explore non-monogamous and polyamorous connections. Feeld, a platform for the "curious," has seen a 966% increase in users selecting non-monogamy as a preference since its 2014 launch. With ~2M members, 60% of whom are couples, the app caters to those seeking to explore their sexuality without the pressure to settle down.

by Layla Nicholson
See full article at DailyStar.co.uk

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Niche Dating Apps Gain Popularity, Offering Fresh Alternatives to Hinge and Bumble

FAST COMPANY - Smaller dating apps like HER, Feeld, and Happn are gaining traction by serving niche communities and offering alternatives to major apps like Bumble and Hinge. "They're not designed to be first-tier," says Eric Resnick, an online dating coach. "They're just designed to serve their niche really well." HER, targeting queer women and nonbinary individuals, boasts 15M users and is experiencing what founder Robyn Exton calls a "sapphic renaissance." Match Group operates community-based apps such as Archer, BLK, Chispa, and Upward. Happn, a French app, connects users who frequent the same locations, appealing to those tired of endless swiping. Feeld, popular among nonmonogamous users, allows users to list intimacy preferences and has seen significant growth among Gen Z.

by Henry Chandonnet
See full article at Fast Company

Niche Dating Apps Thrive as Mainstream Rivals Struggle

FINANCIAL TIMES - Targeted dating apps are gaining traction as mainstream rivals like Tinder and Bumble face user declines. Apps like Grindr and Feeld attract specific communities, such as gay men and those interested in non-monogamy. Grindr's shares have doubled in 2023, contrasting with declining shares of Match Group and Bumble. Feeld has seen a 10% increase in users exploring open relationships and polyamory. These niche apps benefit from a deep understanding of their communities, leading to higher user loyalty and monetization opportunities. Match Group is shifting focus to niche products like Archer, for gay and bisexual men, and other demographically tailored apps to offset declines in mainstream platforms.

See full article at Financial Times

Feeld Rebrands With Vibrant New Look

FAST COMPANY - Feeld, a dating app for exploring polyamory and non-monogamy, has undergone a colorful rebrand by creative agency Made Thought, winning Fast Company's 2024 Innovation by Design Award in graphic design.

by Grace Snelling
See full article at Fast Company

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Dating App Feeld Grapples With Tech Issues as Non-Monogamy Gains Popularity

FAST COMPANY - Feeld, a dating app catering to non-monogamous relationships, faces growing pains amidst rising interest in ethical non-monogamy (ENM). Users experienced login issues and lost matches due to a major app update, impacting even those with paid memberships. Despite frustrations, Feeld's community remains loyal, valuing the app's role in connecting individuals seeking non-traditional relationships. Feeld was created by Dimo Trifonov and Ana Kirova in 2014 as 3nder, to address their own desire for a platform supporting couple dating. However, legal hurdles soon emerged, including a copyright infringement lawsuit from Tinder, which Trifonov criticized as corporate bullying.

by Rebecca Ackermann
See full article at Fast Company

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Hookup App Feeld Partners With Users for Rebrand

MASHABLE - Feeld, a dating app for sexual exploration, has undergone a rebrand with input from users, focusing on personal transformation and curiosity. The app, originally known for threesomes, now embraces a wider range of sexual interests and identities, with many users exploring queer identities and diverse fantasies. The rebrand includes new visuals and a global event to mark this shift.

by Anna Iovine
See full article at Mashable

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Feeld: the Dating App for Inclusivity and Honesty

NEW YORK TIMES - Feeld, which started as a dating app for couples and singles called 3nder in 2014, has, under Ana Kirova's leadership, positioned itself as a go-to for nonmonogamous, sex-positive and kinky people of all sexual orientations. It's also acquired a reputation as a space that fosters directness. Half of Feeld's users in the United States identify as something other than heterosexual, according to the company. Today, the company, which had about a dozen or fewer employees for many years, has ~100, with about one-third of those hired this year. Since receiving half a million dollars from an angel investor in 2016, Feeld says that it has remained profitable without any additional external support. Since 2015, it has offered subscription memberships. Recently, Feeld has also made the leap to IRL, hosting 31 in-person socials worldwide this year, with 200 attendees at each.

by Valeriya Safronova
See full article at New York Times

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Feeld: a Dating App for Unconventional Relationships

FAST COMPANY - Feeld, a 10-year-old dating app for "open-minded individuals," has grown its user base to hundreds of thousands across 100 countries, with 40% identifying as non-heterosexual and one-third as part of a couple. The app focuses on facilitating unconventional arrangements and a wide array of kinks or fetishes, promoting a more transparent and judgement-free dating experience. Feeld has designed its platform to encourage explicit sharing of desires and reduce stigma, offering premium features such as sending private photos or anonymous browsing at ~$12 per month. Ana Kirova, Feeld's co-founder and CEO, reveals that the company has been profitable since 2017, primarily through word-of-mouth advertising.

by Yasmin Gagne
See full article at Fast Company

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