Bumble launched opt-in searchable Handles for verified US iOS members on 14 October, one day after agreeing a $1.3B take-private by Ithaca Holdings.
The FTC sued Ohio-based Digital Forensics and CEO Dmitry Belkin over a sextortion relief scheme it says took at least $60M, and says it won a temporary halt.
A Hassan-led congressional report says Tinder left scam models stale for years as median scammer reach rose more than sevenfold. Match disputes parts.
Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman become Bumble co-CEOs when the $1.3B Ithaca deal closes. Whitney Wolfe Herd, who stays CEO until then, gets no stated title.
Bumble has agreed a $1.3B all-cash sale to Ithaca Holdings at $6.05 a share, approved by written consent from Blackstone and its founder.
Norway's regulator fined Microsoft's Xandr NOK 92M ($9.6M) for using Grindr user data in ad auctions without valid consent. What it means for dating apps.
Character.AI has filed for Chapter 11 and Disney bid $20M for a licence to its tech. What the sale and new state demands mean for dating apps.
Adam Mosseri says Instagram has no plans for a dating feature. What that means for Match Group, Bumble, Hinge and Meta's Facebook Dating.
Dixner has bought Paris singles party brand Crush Party and will run its events as Dixner Crush from 22 October. No price was disclosed.
A Rochester federal judge sentenced Stephen Odiboh to 33 months and $196,500 in restitution over a romance scam with $356,500 in total loss and attempted loss.
ODDA has launched a Consumer Safety Panel of survivors, users and experts to test dating app safety features and shape its standards.
Australia's Federal Court formally declared eharmony misled users on renewals, pricing and free dating. eharmony plans to appeal; penalty still to come.
Hinge now gives daters who commit minor harassment in chats a warning and a compulsory lesson, not a ban. Serious and repeat cases still mean removal.
Feeld's 2025 accounts show revenue up 31.5% to £64.4M and pre-tax profit of £11.4M, outpacing Match Group, Bumble and Grindr.
Grindr acquires PurposeMed for $320M, aiming to integrate healthcare into its app. Will this bold move enhance user value or spark privacy concerns?
Tinder's Group Hangouts feature shifts focus from dating to socializing. Is this a clever market expansion or a sign of desperation?
Ditto's user base surged to 200,000 via FOMO emails. Can it convert sign-ups into active daters, or are these just vanity metrics?
SPARK rebrands as a 'real-world social network,' signaling a retreat from dating. With 1,400 bookings in Thailand, is this a strategic pivot or an admission of defeat?
UK bans under-16s from high-risk platforms by 2027. Dating apps face scrutiny over age verification failures. Will they act before Ofcom enforces?
FirstDate limits choice to one match at a time. Will it outperform swipe models and address Singapore's fertility crisis?
Hinge targets India's growing market to hit $1B revenue by 2027. Can cultural adaptation and user growth deliver the scale needed?
UNC research shows AI companions alter adolescent relationships, raising concerns for dating apps reliant on human interaction. Regulatory responses loom.
IBJ's matchmaking model defies Western norms, posting $91M revenue. Is this a sign of what Western dating apps are missing?
Coffee Meets Bagel gains a first-mover advantage with Singpass integration, setting a compliance benchmark under Singapore's OSRAA. Will others follow?
Grindr plans to offer PrEP directly via its app. Is this a healthcare innovation or a strategic subscription play?
After5.pm launches in SF, challenging dating norms with daily meetups. Can it scale trust and logistics to disrupt Match Group's model?
Lora ditches algorithms for astrology, aiming to redefine dating app engagement. Will birth charts and tarot outperform traditional match scores?
Match Group aims to double Japan's revenue share to 10% by focusing on Pairs, not Tinder. Can local adaptation outpace global scale?
Three Day Rule launches Tai, a voice-activated AI assistant, aiming to bridge the gap between free apps and premium matchmaking. Will it succeed?
ODDA asks Apple and Google to block Simon Leviev's app. Will this move signal a shift in industry standards or just a symbolic gesture?
A Delaware lawsuit questions if Match's board knew about hundreds of weekly assault reports. The outcome could redefine platform governance standards.
DOWN's guerrilla marketing at UNT risks normalizing scam tactics. The regulatory implications could reshape acquisition strategies.
The Romance Scam Prevention Act mandates 24-hour fraud alerts. Platforms face a choice: compliance burden or trust-building opportunity?
Rivet launches with $10.5M, betting on social matching to counter swipe fatigue. Kapoor's India success could be the edge needed for U.S. markets.
Despite dating app fatigue, Tinder and Hinge rank in UK's top 10 non-game apps by revenue. What this means for global strategy and market dynamics.
New research shows AI companions substitute real-world dating for lonely men, posing a retention challenge for dating apps reliant on this user segment.
Once shifts from dating to chat app, prioritizing revenue over matchmaking. Trustpilot rating plummets to 1.2. What this means for the industry.
Lorraine Adams bets on a $1,250 service to bridge the gap between dating apps and premium matchmaking in the US. Will it redefine the market?
Upward sheds its Christian focus, targeting marriage-minded singles. Match Group's pivot challenges Tinder and Hinge for the commitment-seeking market.
99% of women report abuse on dating apps. With global regulations tightening, platforms face a compliance crisis that could reshape their economics.
New research shows Facebook Dating leads in user motivation, challenging paid apps with its free, integrated service. Implications for pricing power.
Australia's shift to mandatory safety duties for dating apps signals a global regulatory trend. Platforms must now prove safety improvements or face legal consequences.
Match Group shifts from acquisitions to hyper-local customisation. Can this strategy halt its user decline by 2027, or is it too late?
ParshipMeet's pivot to over-40s boosts sales by 5% at Parship and 25% at eharmony. Is the Gen Z chase a costly mistake for dating apps?
Tantan's physical events boost female sign-ups by 5%. Is this a scalable growth lever or just an expensive PR move? Investors should reconsider unit economics.
Grindr's marketing shift to real-world events unlocks partnership revenue by addressing brand safety concerns. A model for niche platforms.
The EU's proposed Kids Act mandates robust age verification, with fines up to 6% of global revenue. Dating apps face increased compliance costs.
Mark Brooks' acquisition of GDI raises questions about editorial independence as consultancy ownership blurs lines between media and advisory roles.
Hily's survey reveals a split: 54% of millennials accept free dates, but women see them as low-effort. Can apps bridge this perception gap?
Tinder's new algorithm prioritizes conversations over swipes. Is it a true pivot or just a rebrand? Early data shows a modest 2% growth in sustained chats.