In a not a so surprising move Lumen's parent company Bumble (which was called Magic Lab at one point) has decided to close Lumen down and move all users to Bumble. Lumen was a dating service designed for singles 50 years and older. On November 23rd November 2020 Lumen was fully shut down and access to the service was cut off for all users.

The reason this was not a surprise is that early in 2020 Chappy a dating app for gay singles was also shut down by Bumble. Ever since Bumble's founder Whitney Wolfe Herd took over as CEO of Magic Lab she has been reshaping the holding company and their brands.

Some female Bumble app users are purposely matching with Trump supporters to identify participants in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, and then promptly turning them into the FBI.

One Twitter user posted that she had seen dozens of rioters using dating apps in the DC area and wondered whether it would be useful to law enforcement to gather evidence from these platforms. Immigration Attorney Allison Norris responded, saying her friend was already collecting evidence against them: "She's matching with MAGA bros and they’re bragging and sending her pics and videos of them in the Capitol," she tweeted. “She's sending them to the FBI." 

Swiping through a lot of profiles quickly might seem like a benefit of online dating, but according to a new study, too many choices can lead to a “rejection mindset” for daters.

According to PsyPost.com, researchers from the Netherlands found that people tended to close themselves off when using dating apps because they get overwhelmed by the number of choices presented. A seemingly endless stream of profiles increases feelings of dissatisfaction, which in turn causes them to reject even more potential dates, especially the more they swipe.

Singles in Japan have the government on their side when it comes to finding a mate. The country’s Cabinet Office is asking for budget approval for a new dating service that is driven by artificial intelligence.

According to CNet, Japan currently has government-run matchmaking, so it’s not a new idea. About 25 of Japan’s 47 prefectures offer state-run services similar to an online dating app, where people complete basic profile information and are given a list of people who match their criteria. However, introducing AI could change the game with more targeted matchmaking abilities.

Now that COVID-19 has created a surge of activity and interest in dating apps, many singles around the world are turning to them to find love. In light of this, Japanese officials have an eye on AI to drive better, more curated matches, with their goal being to help people start families.

Recipient
eHarmony

eHarmony is the winner of the Editor's Top Pick - Match System award for 2021. In recent years this category has a seen a reduction of dating services who meet the criteria to be considered. The reason is the pendulum seems to have shifted with the increased popularity of dating apps. Casual dating with swiping through endless photos is on the rise (emphasizing quantity) while long-term relationships and in depth profiles is falling (quality). The result of this is matching algorithms do not have to be nearly as complex since so little profile information exists about members. Thanks to dating services like eHarmony, matching based on compatibility is still important and a major focus of their dating service.

Dating apps have been blamed for the so-called “dating apocalypse” – the idea that singles prefer to mindlessly swipe instead of trying to form a long-term relationship with someone who interests them. But according to a new study, the opposite is true – people are turning to dating apps to find long-term relationships.

Researchers from Switzerland’s University of Geneva (UNIGE) studied survey data from 3,235 of the country’s adults aged 18 and over who were in a relationship and had met their partner in the last ten years, and found that those who had met over a dating app were more likely to live together than others, indicating a higher level of commitment.

Women who met their partner over a dating app were also more likely to want a child within the next three years compared to those who met their partners offline, showing that dating app users approached the dating process with greater commitment. In addition, those couples who met over apps were just as happy and satisfied in their relationships as those who hadn’t, according to a report by CNN.