Match Group Debuts New Gay Dating App Archer to Kick Off Pride Month

Match Group announced the launch of its new gay dating app Archer on June 1st, just in time for Pride month.

According to Tech Crunch, Archer is a “social-first” dating experience specifically for gay, bi and queer men. The app is distinguishing itself from other gay dating apps like Grindr and Scruff by offering traditional social media features within the app.

For example, the app has interest tags that you can search, making the search process easier and allowing filters to be set. Free-form tags will be available post-launch, so users can customize their own interests. Most similarly to social platforms, users can follow one another, paving the way for similar features. (There are plans down the line to add a Stories feature, too.)

The app includes important features to gay dating apps, like messaging and “the grid,” which means the ability to view more than one photo or profile at once. According to the press release, Archer offers a grid similar to Grindr’s with three options – an in-depth look at one profile, or two different zoom levels of multiple profiles (15 at once or dozens at once). Grindr recently debuted a web version of its popular app with the ability to see more profiles at once along with larger photos.

Archer screenshots

Image: Archer

Users can also choose what they are looking to get out of Archer – whether it’s friendship, a hookup, date, relationship, or just someone to talk with.

According to the press release, Archer is designed to foster “deeper self-expression” by combining elements of social media with a dating app.

Safety is another important component for Archer users, including mandatory photo verification. It’s sister app Tinder recently added video verification, so this might be part of Archer’s sign-up process in the future. Match Group is also using AI to blur photos that may contain nudity, to help give Archer users agency over whether or not they want to see them.

Archer is also introducing an “in-app health club” according to its press release, designed to be provide people information and links for mental and medical health resources, including counseling centers, STD/STI testing centers, and PrEP and PEP medication information.

Michael Kaye, Director of Brand Marketing and Communications at Archer, said in the release: "Archer ushers in a new age of dating, celebrating self-expression and community and providing queer men with a safer space to connect freely with whoever they're looking for."

The new app won’t be available everywhere immediately; the company is doing a roll out first in New York, and then expanding to Los Angeles and Washington D.C. in the next few months.

Match Group plans to have the app available across the U.S. within the year, according to Tech Crunch.