NEWS.COM.AU - Grindr has issued a safety warning in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, following reports of assaults linked to meet-ups arranged through dating apps. ACON, an LGBTQ+ health group, reported incidents where groups targeted victims, moved to less traceable platforms, and lured them to isolated locations. Users are advised to meet in public, verify identities, and share their location for safety. NSW Police are investigating these assaults in areas such as Sydney's Northern Beaches and Western suburbs.
449 posts categorized "Grindr"
Grindr Issues Safety Warning After Assaults in New South Wales
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Grindr's Rapid Growth and Global Expansion
QUEER FEED - Grindr has seen strong growth, with its stock rising ~85% this year. The company reported a 32% increase in revenue year-over-year and a 74.36% gross profit margin. Features like Roam, Right Now, and Wingman are helping to grow user activity and monetization. Grindr aims to reach $600M in revenue by 2027 and is expanding globally with a new Spanish platform to connect with international audiences.
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Grindr Launches HIV Self-Test Kit Programme in Namibia
MAMBA ONLINE - Grindr has launched its first HIV self-test kit program in Africa, partnering with IntraHealth Namibia to offer free, home-delivered kits for users in Namibia. This initiative, part of Grindr for Equality, also expands to Australia through a partnership with NAPWHA. Users can order kits directly via the Grindr app, making HIV testing more private and accessible.
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Grindr Implemented Return-to-Office Policy to Retaliate Against Workers for Unionizing, NLRB Says
GIZMODO - The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint against Grindr, claiming it imposed a return-to-office policy to retaliate against employees for unionizing, leading to around half of Grindr's staff leaving. Grindr allegedly refused to negotiate with the union and offered unlawful severance agreements. The remaining staff voted to unionize in December 2023, but Grindr is disputing the election because some votes were cast by ex-employees affected by the policy. If no settlement is reached, a hearing is set for March.
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Democrats Launch Six-Figure Grindr Ad Campaign to Mobilize LGBTQ+ Voters Against Project 2025
WASHINGTON BLADE - The Democratic National Committee (DNC) recently launched a six-figure ad campaign on Grindr, aiming to reach LGBTQ+ voters in swing states. This campaign, called "Project 2025," is a direct response to former President Donald Trump and his allies' stated plans, which the DNC argues could undermine LGBTQ+ rights if Republicans win in 2024.
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15 Years of Grindr: How One App Shaped LGBTQ+ Dating
THE INDEPENDENT - Grindr, the first location-based dating app, now has over 27M users globally and ~3.4M active users in the EU. Known for its "zero feet away" tagline, it connects nearby users, originally for casual meetups but later fostering deeper connections. While Grindr is culturally significant in LGBTQ+ communities, it faces criticism for issues like superficial interactions, body image pressures, and privacy concerns due to location sharing. Despite these, Grindr has made strides in LGBTQ+ advocacy, enhancing user safety and promoting health awareness.
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Dating App Ad Spending in 2024 Set to Surpass 2023, With Bumble Leading the Charge
MEDIA POST - Dating app ad spending in 2024 is set to surpass 2023's total, with the top six apps (Bumble, eHarmony, Grindr, Hinge, Match.com, and Tinder) spending $147M by July, compared to $220M for all of 2023. Bumble has overtaken Tinder as the top advertiser, spending $44M, driven by a major rebranding effort. Despite a rise in consumer burnout with dating apps, including 78% reporting occasional fatigue, platforms are increasing their marketing to regain interest. Match Group plans to boost marketing for Hinge and Tinder in Q3, while Bumble will also increase its Q4 spending to attract users.
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Grindr Developing AI 'Wingman' to Help Users Find Long-Term Relationships
WALL STREET JOURNAL - Grindr is developing an AI "wingman" for its users, aiming to help with long-term relationship prospects, set up dates, and eventually handle tasks like making reservations. The AI could even communicate with another user's AI before the actual date to screen for compatibility. Privacy concerns are a key focus due to Grindr's sensitive user base. The AI model, trained on romantic conversations, will continue to evolve based on user feedback and will respect user consent for data use. Testing is ongoing, with full release expected by 2027.
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New Competitors - Sniffies, Archer, and Motto - Challenge Grindr's Dominance
FAST COMPANY - Sniffies, Archer, and Motto are emerging competitors to Grindr by focusing on specific aspects of the LGBTQ+ dating scene. Sniffies emphasizes anonymous hookups through a map-based interface, catering to users exploring their sexuality. Archer, from Match Group, targets users looking for more genuine connections by requiring photo verification and focusing on dating rather than casual encounters. Motto, created by Grindr's founder, removes anonymity completely by requiring headshots. Despite these challenges, Grindr remains dominant, expanding its features and focusing on user needs.
by Henry Chandonnet
See full article at Fast Company
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Grindr Looks Beyond Hookups to Build a Global 'Gayborhood'
ADWEEK - Grindr, the dating app for LGBTQ+ individuals, is expanding beyond hookups to emphasize community and diverse connections. During the US Open, it introduced a tennis-themed notification sound to engage users, highlighting the sport's popularity in the gay community. Grindr aims to redefine its image by promoting its use for friendships, travel tips, and community building, not just casual dating. With its global "gayborhood" concept, the platform is also addressing safety concerns, especially in countries where homosexuality is criminalized, while continuing to incorporate humor and sexuality in its brand identity.
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Dating Apps Develop AI 'Wingmen' to Generate Better Chat-up Lines
FINANCIAL TIMES - Dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are developing AI tools to assist users in improving their interactions. For example, Tinder is testing an AI feature to help users build profiles by selecting the best photos, and Hinge plans to launch a chatbot offering feedback on user-generated prompts. Grindr's "Grindr Wingman" generates conversation prompts based on users' profiles and chat history to reduce dating fatigue. Match Group added it is investing in recruiting AI talent as a "game-changing" priority for its flagship dating products. Engineers from Hyperconnect, the South Korean social media company it acquired in 2021, would be redirected to build AI tools at Tinder and Hinge.
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Grindr Issues Warning Amid Rise in Violence Against Users
MSN - Grindr has issued warnings about a rise in violence against users of the app globally. Perpetrators are increasingly using Grindr to target victims, as seen in a recent deadly attack in Brussels. Since June, there has been a notable increase in reports of violence or theft following Grindr dates. Grindr is using pop-up alerts to caution users, particularly in Brussels, where violent and homophobic ambushes have been reported. The app's anonymity and location-sharing features make it a target for criminals.
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Grindr: Leveraging Dynamo and Aurora to Build an Enhanced Chat System
AWS - Grindr, the largest LGBTQ+ social networking app with ~13M monthly users, rebuilt its chat platform using AWS services like Amazon DynamoDB, Aurora Postgres, Elasticache, Managed Service for Kafka, and Pinpoint. This architecture overview walks through the new chat platform that allowed Grindr users to send 121B chats in 2023.
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Grindr Partners With Kenya's Largest LGBTQ+ Group to Provide Legal and Health Resources
WATERMARK - Kenya's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, GALCK+, has partnered with Grindr under the Grindr for Equality initiative. This partnership provides Kenyan LGBTQ+ users with in-app access to vital information about their legal rights, safety, and sexual health. In addition to the partnership with GALCK+ in Kenya, Grindr has partnered with IntraHealth Namibia, a health care provider in Windhoek, under the Grindr for Equality initiative.
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Grindr Introduces Tennis-Inspired 'Grunt' Notification Sound to Celebrate US Open and LGBTQ+ Culture
WHAT'S TRENDING - Grindr introduced a new 'grunt' notification sound to celebrate the US Open tennis tournament, reflecting the sport's playful connection with LGBTQ+ culture. The feature plays when users 'tap' on potential matches, adding humor to interactions. The 'grunt' is inspired by the noises often heard during tennis matches, which are culturally significant and embraced by the gay community. This update is part of Grindr's efforts to engage users with culturally relevant features, blending tennis enthusiasm with its dating platform.
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