General News

Facebook is testing a new virtual speed dating app called Sparked, an alternative to the swiping and messaging process of traditional dating apps.

Facebook describes the app as “video dating with kind people,” setting the tone for its users and to differentiate itself from other apps. The company also says that Sparked does not require its users to set up public profiles, and there’s no swiping or DMs - a departure from traditional dating apps. 

Instead, Sparked will provide a list of virtual speed dating events in different cities that users can join, according to The Verge. Once they do, they will begin the speed dating process and each date will last about four minutes. At the end of each mini-date, Sparked will ask how each person felt about the date. If they both agree that they had a “great time,” they’ll be scheduled for a second, ten-minute date. After the second date, if the couple wants to exchange information to stay in touch, they can do so themselves through Instagram, iMessage or email.

Apple announced in early April that it will soon be rolling out its new privacy notification for users who download any app from its store. The company didn’t give a specific launch date but said that it would happen “in the coming weeks” according to Reuters. 

Apple has created a one-time notice that requires an app developer to ask for the user’s consent before the app is able to track personal data and share it with third parties, according to Reuters. CEO Tim Cook described the notification in a podcast with tech journalist Kara Swisher, saying it will appear as a short checklist of how the app will use data, to make it easier and more transparent than sifting through the standard pages-long privacy policies that most people do not read. 

Digital advertisers and app developers are worried that the notification would cause many more users to decline permissions. 

Image: OkCUpid

OkCupid has launched a new profile badge for users to advertise their views on climate change in honor of Earth Day.

The dating app company will prompt its users with the question: “Are you concerned about climate change & want a profile badge to show it’s important to you?” For those who choose to answer in the affirmative, a Climate Change Advocate badge will be automatically added to their profile. 

In addition, these users will be featured in the Climate Change Stack (categories where users can easily search potential matches according to interests), and OkCupid also plans to donate $1 per profile badge to EarthDay.org, up to $25,000. EarthDay.org is the world’s largest recruiter of for the environmental movement, which began on the first Earth Day in 1970. 

WooPlus, an inclusive dating app for curvy people, is testing out its new live feature ‘Love Advisor,’ which aims to help its users find love and curb bad behaviors like ghosting and endless messaging that leads nowhere, according to the company’s press release.

Love Advisor is a live support feature that will help users better communicate when they are using the app, offering real-time guidance so they can avoid some common dating pitfalls. 

According to the press release, Love Advisor will provide:

Dating app Grindr announced the premiere of its new comedy special called Gag Reflex, featuring a lineup of up-and-coming LGBTQ comedians, who share stories of dating and the queer experience.

The special originally aired as a livestream on April 1st on YouTube and the Grindr app, and is now available to watch anytime on YouTube. According to Variety, the featured comedians include Joel Kim Booster (NBC’s Sunnyside, Hulu’s Shrill), Sydnee Washington (Broad City), Jay Jurden (The Tonight Show), Jaye McBride and Zach Zimmerman.

Chispa, one of the most popular dating apps for Latinx daters, said its subscriber base has grown to over four million, a twenty-eight percent increase from this time last year, according to the company’s press release. This milestone was shared just before they announced their second piece of big news: a partnership with Tragos, a popular card game among Latinos. 

Tragos offers questions centered around Latinx culture, with some references in Spanish, like “Do you fear la chancla?” or "Ever get hit with '¿y el novio/ la novia?' at family gatherings?" The point is to spark conversation – opening the door to talk about upbringing or current social topics, and hopefully build connection.

Chispa will offer an in-app version of the game so its users can play with their matches, and hopefully forge connections.