Queer Dating App Archer Launches Across U.S.
Contributed by: kellyseal on Friday, October 27 2023 @ 12:59 pm
Last modified on Friday, October 27 2023 @ 01:11 pm
Match Group’s new queer dating app Archer launched nationwide on October 11th, which was also National Coming Out Day. And to celebrate, the app hosted parties at popular gay bars across the country.
The app’s headquarters is based in Dallas and Austin (also Match Group’s headquarters), which have some of the country’s most active LGBTQIA+ scenes. Prior to launch, the app was tested in the New York and Los Angeles markets and saw early success, especially among younger users. The company points out that 62 percent of people on Archer were 35 years or younger, according to Culture Map Austin.
The launch parties and events taking place in major cities (though not Austin), are in line with Archer’s mission: an app designed to foster a social environment. The app is marketed as a “social first” app, allowing users to express themselves through photos, messaging (including group messaging), and connecting without any kind of preset label. In fact, the profiles are arranged in feed and grid view options typically found in social media, rather than on dating apps.
Michael Kaye, Archer’s Director of Brand Marketing and Communications, said the parties were designed to celebrate “the stories of queer men all over the country,” according to Culture Map Austin[*1] .
As Kaye describes it, Archer combines “a social media experience with a dating app to create community-building opportunities.” Archer also allows users to message each other without matching first, creating a more “open community,” as Kaye describes it in the press release. Archer does require verified selfies as many dating apps do, and profiles must include a face photo.
"Archer felt that users shouldn’t have to wait to shoot their shot," Kaye told Culture Map Austin. "Because users can freely give and receive messages, connections on Archer are intentional and genuine."
Archer also added an in-app “Health Hub” with resources on mental and sexual health.
According to Mashable, when the app first launched in New York and Los Angeles in June, the company partnered with LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD to ensure it would resonate with the younger gay community. It surveyed 1,200 queer men via interviews and product testing, and found that users wanted to feel safe on the platform as well as be able to express themselves.
Archer also incorporates AI in its safety features, including a smart-blur feature in messaging where users can choose whether or not to view a nude picture sent to them by another user.
Users can also filter searches according to interests, which are marked as tags, and can choose to follow other users, similar to social media apps. For more on this dating app you can check our their website[*2] .