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.
19 posts categorized "Growlr"
Gay Dating Apps Join Health Experts to Fight Hate Speech and Racism
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New Co-CEOs at ParshipMeet Group
OPW - July 20 - After 7 years, Tim Schiffers, the incumbent CEO, is handing over the baton to Marc Schachtel and Geoff Cook. Marc Schachtel (formerly COO) and Geoff Cook (Founder/CEO, The Meet Group) are now co-CEOs of ParshipMeet Group. Henning Rönneberg is CFO.
Tim successfully completed the merger of Parship Group with The Meet Group and is moving on to new challenges outside the organization.
Marc will lead the entire matchmaking business as CEO of Parship Group: Parship, ElitePartner, eharmony, LOVOO. See Marc's Linkedin post.
Geoff will continue to be responsible for the Social Dating & Entertainment division: MeetMe, Skout, Tagged, GROWLr and the live video streaming solution vPaaS, which powers the video solution of some of the largest dating and social apps in the world. See Geoff's Linkedin post.
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Does Banning People With Felonies From Dating Apps Make Anyone Safer?
THE MARSHALL PROJECT - May 20 - Match Group plans to launch a feature allowing daters to run background checks on potential matches. The company says its efforts are aimed at keeping users safe. But civil rights advocates say the record checks extend an unfair practice of imposing "collateral consequences" long after people have finished their sentences. "Meeting strangers can be risky, and I worry that this approach will mislead people into thinking they're safe," said Sarah Lageson, a Rutgers University sociologist who studies the growing use of online criminal records. People with felonies - anything from a $10 drug conviction to capital murder - are banned for life from some dating apps including Match Group's apps, Coffee Meets Bagel, Zoosk. A representative for The Meet Group said that only two of the company's apps - Skout and GROWLr - have a ban, based on policies it inherited when it acquired those apps. The representative said The Meet Group would reconsider that part of the policy.
by Keri Blakinger
See full article at The Marshall Project
See the top news on Match Group See the top news on The Meet Group
See the top news on Coffee Meets Bagel See the top news on Zoosk
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The Meet Group Acquired and Looking at 2022 IPO as ParshipMeet!
BUSINESSWIRE - Sep 4 - The Meet Group announced the completion of its acquisition by the parent company of eharmony. ParshipMeet Group was created to manage The Meet Group and Parship Group. It now operates MeetMe, LOVOO, Tagged, Skout, GROWLr, eharmony, Parship and ElitePartner.
The Meet Group focuses on community while bringing social entertainment to dating, monetizing through livestreaming video. Parship Group brands are market leaders in the matchmaking space; focused on serious relationships and monetizing through subscriptions.
The all-cash transaction represents an enterprise value of ~$500m.
"We are thrilled to combine with a globally leading matchmaking company," said Geoff Cook, CEO of The Meet Group. "We believe this deal will help define the future of dating. We will continue to focus on... building the best dating features in the world, ...investing in livestreaming..., and discovering opportunities to expand and grow – organically and through strategic relationships, including our video-platform-as-a-service offering". 195k+ dating games are played each day across The Meet Group's apps, up 104% since March.
"The Meet Group's livestreaming video platform is unique and well positioned for a post-pandemic world where video becomes a critical part of finding and screening first dates," said Tim Schiffers, CEO of ParshipMeet Group. "By combining The Meet Group's assets with Parship Group's strengths, we've created a global dating leader and one of the most diversified portfolios of dating brands in the world. ...We see significant potential to further the growth of The Meet Group's video platform-as-a-service products, as well opportunities for knowledge-sharing and cross-selling."
ParshipMeet Group is jointly owned by ProSiebenSat.1, a leading free-to-air TV broadcaster and video entertainment company in the German-speaking markets, and General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies.
See full article at Businesswire
Additionally, from ProSiebenSat1:
ParshipMeet Group has revenues of EUR 451 million and adjusted EBITDA of EUR 95 million as of H1 2020, for the last 12 months. Double-digit annual growth rates expected
The combined company operates as ParshipMeet Group, a newly-minted unicorn and a leading global player in the online dating market. ProSiebenSat.1 owns 53% and General Atlantic 43% in ParshipMeet Group. The remainder is held by management.
Rainer Beaujean, Chairman & CFO, ProSiebenSat.1 said, "This investment case is also another strong proof of concept of our ability to use the strengths of our Entertainment business to support the growth and development of consumer-facing digital platform and commerce businesses."
Joern Nikolay, MD, General Atlantic said, "We believe in the ability of ParshipMeet Group...to bring transformative digital innovation to the global online dating sector...and harness the power of technology."
Tim Schiffers, CEO, ParshipMeet Group said, "Online dating, and interactive live video in particular, is a global megatrend that will continue to transform all of our lives in the future. ...Our brands span the whole spectrum of the online dating market: meeting, dating and falling in love. ...We are perfectly positioned for sustained long-term growth."
ProSiebenSat.1 and General Atlantic are evaluating an IPO for ParshipMeet Group in 2022.
See full article at ProsiebenSat.1 website
See the top news on The Meet Group
See the top news on Parship Group
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UrSafe & The Meet Group Announce Partnership
PR NEWSWIRE - July 7 - MeetMe, Tagged, Skout, GROWLr and LOVOO users will receive a free 60-day subscription to UrSafe's premium safety Features. UrSafe is a hands-free, voice-activated personal safety app fully integrated with 911.
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The Meet Group Launches Monetization on Gay Dating App GROWLr
BUSINESSWIRE - June 11 - The Meet Group, a leading provider of interactive dating solutions, allows GROWLr's members to send virtual gifts inside the app. Some of the virtual gifts available range from teddy bears, rainbows and roses, to the top gift of a dragon, worth 100K credits. "The launch of virtual gifting is very exciting for the community," said Geoff Cook, CEO of The Meet Group. "Not only does gifting provide a new way for our members to express themselves and connect with others, we also expect it to increase video engagement across the dating app, just like we've seen on MeetMe, Skout, and Tagged."
See full article at Businesswire
See the top news on The Meet Group
See the top news on Growlr
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The Meet Group Powers Boom in Safe Social Media Speed Dating Sessions
FORBES - May 11 - The Meet Group provides interactive live video solutions for its apps - MeetMe, LOVOO, Skout, Tagged and Growlr, and also Match Group's Plenty of Fish. Across that spectrum, The Meet Group works to ensure safety and security for its social media connections. Recently, the live meet-up sections of MeetMe, Skout and Plenty of Fish introduced NextDate speed dating sessions with built-in The Meet Group Technology. Running now through May 30, those sites will host Speed Dating Social Hours at 10PM and 11PM ET, every Thursday and Saturday. The Meet Group will reward those who find their match on NextDate. The first 25 couples to match will receive 8K ($50) credits redeemable on the MeetMe, Skout, and Plenty of Fish dating apps to buy and send gifts to members who are live-streaming on the apps or playing NextDate on any of the social media platforms.
by John Scott Lewinski
See full article at Forbes
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The Meet Group Launches Live Video on Growlr
BUSINESSWIRE - May 7 - The Meet Group, a leading provider of interactive dating solutions, is launching live video on its gay dating app GROWLr. Additionally, in the midst of the pandemic, one-on-one video chat is now free for all GROWLr members. "Livestreaming allows people to make connections and remain socially distant," said Geoff Cook, CEO of The Meet Group. Since the release of Live, 87% of surveyed GROWLr members said they feel they are able to connect with more people, and 90% have agreed that the feature provides them with a better way to meet and socialize with others during the pandemic. Beginning this week, GROWLr will host a variety of free live entertainment shows on its mobile app, welcoming musical artists, comedians, and more.
See full article at Businesswire
See the top news on The Meet Group
See the top news on Growlr
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The Top Dating Industry News for April 7th
OPW - Apr 7 - Virtual Dating on the Rise, GROWLr Live Video, Match Group Q1 Statement, Q1 Global Consumer app Spend.
For the top weekly dating industry news in ~2 minutes subscribe to OPW's Two Minute Tuesdays (TMT) podcast on Breaker , Google Podcasts
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GROWLr to Launch Live Video Dating to Respond to Pandemic
BUSINESSWIRE - Apr 2 - The Meet Group, a leading provider of interactive livestreaming solutions, is rolling out Live Video to users of its gay dating app, GROWLr. "In today's climate, livestreaming allows people to feel connected while maintaining proper dating distance," said Geoff Cook, CEO. "Since the outbreak, we've seen explosive, overnight growth of our other live video platforms, MeetMe, LOVOO, Skout and Tagged. In the last week, we saw a 33% increase in time spent in video and a 38% increase in video chats per day compared to the week before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization."
See full article at Businesswire
See the top news on The Meet Group
See the top news on Growlr
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Growlr Suspended Many Accounts Without Explanation
QUEERTY - Feb 19 - Social media has erupted with a massive growl of anger following mass account suspensions on gay dating app Growlr. The mass suspensions appear to have begun February 17. Growlr was sold to The Meet Group for ~$11M last year.
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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.
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Growlr: What the New Owners Have in Store for the App?
GAYSTAR NEWS - June 21 - Gay entrepreneur Coley Cummiskey launched men's dating app Growlr in 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. In March, it was revealed he'd sold it in a $12M deal to tech company, The Meet Group. The app says it has 10M members and ~200K daily users. Growlr is aimed very much at the 'bears' market – men who are bigger, hairer and heftier, plus their admirers. TMG is a publicly owned business headquartered in New Hope, Pennsylvania. TMG was founded in 2005 as MyYearbook, but has grown and changed its name in the intervening years. It was founded by current CEO, Geoff Cook with his siblings, Catherine and Dave Cook, and specializes in dating apps. Its other brands include MeetMe, LOVOO, Skout and Tagged. They launched live streaming on MeetMe in April 2017, and have now embedded it into LOVOO, Tagged and Skout. "What we saw with Growlr was a very active, and a pretty sizeable community sending many millions of messages every single day. We saw the potential to roll out live streaming video into that community," said Mr Cook. One thing that won't change is the app's focus. The team realize that's its strength. Growlr does have a very distinct sense of community. Its users are very loyal and very engaged.
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The Meet Group CEO: Livestream 'Talent' to Double Dating App 'Gift' Sales
PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL - Mar 21 - The Meet Group has built its portfolio of five dating apps through acquisitions, with the $11.8M deal to buy niche gay dating app Growlr being the most recent. Historically, the company has looked for apps that either expand into a segment of users it hasn't reached before or a new geographic area, like Growlr with the gay community and Lovoo with its European foothold. Integrating video has been a top priority. They like to see a lot of one-to-one chat messages and relatively high DAU. Meet's new video revenue stems from in-app purchases users make to buy and give "gifts" like a virtual race car, and when a popular livestreamer acquires the equivalent of ~$200 worth, they can redeem for cash. Apple and Google get a 30% cut of revenue stemming from in-app purchases, the livestreamer gets 35% and Meet pockets the other 35%. Cook expects video revenue to double in 2019 and double again by 2021.
by Michelle Caffrey
See full article at Philadelphia Business Journal
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Quirky Dating Apps Set to Rival Tinder and Bumble
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK - Mar 15 - Growlr, Smell Dating and Unveil are generating successful matches in unique ways - including asking users to talk to each other before seeing their photos and matching people based on celebrities they like.
- Unveil - This app presents potential partners via a blurred photo screen and the only way to 'unlock' their image is to talk to them on the phone.
- Badoo - A new Badoo's feature allows users to name a celebrity they'd ideally like to date and the app will find matches who look just like them.
- Smell Dating - This company will send a shirt to its members that they have to wear for three days without deodorant, and then mail it back only to be sent shirt options from other people who did the same thing. The scent they like the most will then be revealed and contact details exchanged on the app.
by Matilda Rudd
See full article at DailyMail.co.uk
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