PEW RESEARCH - The share of U.S. adults living without a romantic partner has declined slightly, from 44% in 2019 to 42% in 2023, with modest increases in married adults (from 50% to 51%) and those cohabiting with a partner (from 6% to 7%). Those with lower education levels are more likely to be unpartnered. The decrease in unpartnered adults is attributed to fewer divorces rather than an increase in new marriages, with the divorce rate hitting a record low of 1.4% in 2023.
Share of U.S. Adults Living Alone Has Ticked Down in Recent Years
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GPT Search: a Game-Changer for Niche Brands Over Traditional SEO
LINKEDIN - Michael O'Sullivan, founder of HubPeople, shared a significant milestone. After OpenAI launched a new search tool called Search GPT on Dec 16, 2024, HubPeople saw its first user come through this tool on December 27. O'Sullivan believes that Search GPT will become a powerful way for smaller, niche brands to attract customers by offering more personalized search results, potentially changing how online marketing works compared to traditional SEO.
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Tinder Invites Aussies to "Break Out of Your Bubble" This Summer
CAMPAIGNBRIEF - Tinder has launched its new summer campaign, "Break Out of Your Bubble," playfully challenging Australians to step outside their comfort zones and embrace new experiences, people, and places. Rooted in the observation that Australians often stick to familiar social circles and routines, the campaign takes a satirical approach, spotlighting everyday "bubbles" Aussies unknowingly live in.
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Bumble Partners With Amelia Dimoldenberg for Dating Content and Events
CAMPAIGN LIVE - Bumble is partnering with comedian Amelia Dimoldenberg to produce dating content, including interviews, dating "dos and don'ts," and her "Flirty-Firsts" series, shared on Bumble's and Dimoldenberg's social channels. The partnership also includes her hosting Bumble's annual "Valentine’s Affair" event and is part of a larger collaboration with Interview Magazine's Mel Ottenberg to create celebrity interviews and editorial content.
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25% of Young Couples in Japan Meet Through Dating Apps
JAPAN TIMES - Dating apps in Japan are increasingly popular among Gen Z, with a government survey showing 25% of couples under 40 who married recently met online. Platforms like Pairs and Tinder are adapting to Gen Z preferences, emphasizing shared interests through features like "My Tags" and "Real-Mind-Matching." While apps expand options for niche hobbies and traits, users often prioritize physical attributes like height or appearance, leading to a "grass is greener" mentality. Despite the challenges, dating apps remain a significant way for young people to meet in a society with fewer traditional social opportunities.
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Bumble Shares Rise 3.2% With Michael Affronti as New CPO
INVESTING.COM - Bumble's stock rose 3.2% following the appointment of Michael Affronti as Chief Product Officer (CPO). Formerly SVP at Salesforce, Affronti brings extensive experience in product innovation, having led multi-billion-dollar e-commerce initiatives and held roles at Microsoft and Dataminr. Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones emphasized his ability to drive innovation as the company plans bold product developments for 2025. Affronti replaces former CPO Ali Rayl, with investors reacting positively to this strategic leadership move.
by Frank DeMatteo
See full article at Investing.com
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Whatever Happened to Oscar Mayer's Dating App, Sizzl?
MASHED - Oscar Mayer's dating app, Sizzl, launched in 2015 during the bacon craze, allowed users to connect based on bacon preferences like cut, type, and cooking style. Designed as a marketing stunt, it was only available for six months and limited to iOS devices. Despite its short lifespan, the app featured functional swiping, a "sizzle meter" for matches, and chat capabilities, showcasing Oscar Mayer's playful approach to engaging bacon enthusiasts.
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59% of Couples Now Meet Online, Surpassing Traditional Methods
DAILY MAIL - By 2020–2022, 59% of couples met online, compared to just 12% in the early 2000s, marking a sharp rise in internet dating's dominance. Meeting through friends, which accounted for 33% of relationships in the 1960s, dropped to 15% in the 2020s. Workplace romances fell from 20% in the 1960s to just 7% today, while bars and restaurants, once responsible for 17% of introductions, have also declined. Online dating surpassed all other methods in the late 2010s when it overtook friends as the leading way couples meet.
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Dating Sunday: Busiest Day for Dating Apps
NBC LOS ANGELES - Dating Sunday, the first Sunday of January, is the busiest day for dating apps, with Tinder reporting a 40% surge in users, a 22% rise in messages, and an 18% increase in likes compared to typical Sundays. Response times are 20 minutes faster, and the platform sees 58.7 million more likes in the six weeks leading up to Valentine's Day.
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Actor Anil Kapoor Becomes Matrimony.com's Brand Ambassador
BRAND EQUITY - Matrimony.com has appointed renowned Indian actor Anil Kapoor, known for his roles in Slumdog Millionaire and Mr. India, as his brand ambassador to promote its community-based matrimony services. A marketing campaign, including TV commercials targeting BrahminMatrimony, RajputMatrimony, AgarwalMatrimony, and KayasthaMatrimony, will launch in January 2025.
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New Dating Apps Tackle Ghosting, Scams, and Compatibility
SKY NEWS - Frustrated with traditional dating apps, entrepreneurs are creating niche platforms to address common issues like ghosting, fake profiles, and compatibility mismatches. Zaahirah Adam launched Hati, an app skipping profile pictures and texting, instead using voice notes and short phone calls to foster genuine connections. Johanna Mason created Cherry, requiring ID verification to tackle catfishing and scams, while Alex Felipelli developed Veggly for vegans and Lefty for left-wing singles, catering to shared values.
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Product Design Feedback
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China Slaps Heavy Fine on Top Dating Platform for False Ads
SIXTH TONE - Zhenai, one of China's oldest matchmaking platforms, was fined 1.7M yuan ($232K) for false advertising, including the use of fake profiles, exaggerated claims, and aggressive sales tactics. Regulators found the company misled users with automated messages, manufactured success stories, and inflated membership numbers, damaging consumer trust and market competition. Zhenai has apologized and promised to improve oversight.
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Happy New Year!
OPW - We wish you a very Happy New Year. To all our readers of Online Personals Watch, we wish you and your families a fantastic 2025. Thanks for your continued readership, support, and encouragement. Online Personals Watch was started in 2004, and we're now in our 21st year with the same team and zero turnover!
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