Dating

Image: Bumble

Dating app Bumble has launched a marketing campaign in India to highlight its new feature Opening Moves, featuring two young Bollywood celebrities.

According to The Times of India, the campaign stars Khushi Kapoor and Vedang Raina in a series of films, where Kushi asks Vedang questions like “what is your guilty pleasure?” and “what is your iconic date idea?” Opening Moves allows women to post a question to potential suitors, so Bumble’s ad is demonstrating the feature in a fun way.

The beloved Bollywood actors share personal anecdotes and talk about the changes Bumble has made, as well as the cultural shift of dating in India, where women are feeling more empowered and more and more people are meeting online.

BLK dating app has launched a new initiative in celebration of Pride which highlights queer event curators in select cities.

The campaign “It’s Giving Space: Celebrating Queer Event Curators” will offer three compelling narratives of LGBTQ+ party collectives, according to Black Enterprise Magazine. One such collective is Party Noire in Chicago, a cultural hub which celebrates Black femmes, Queer Women of Color, and Black womanhood along the gender spectrum with a focus on trans, queer, and genderqueer Black people.

Another collective, Global Warming in Brooklyn, is dedicated to uplifting Black and Brown queer and trans people by providing safe spaces where they can dance, celebrate “and experience joy,” according to Black Enterprise. It was co-created by DJs Adair and Boston Chery.

A new study by Bumble among single LGBTQ+ Filipinos found that a whopping 85 percent said that it’s important to them to find partners who accept them for who they are without pressuring them to change.

According to Adobo Magazine, nearly half (48 percent) of respondents feel that they need to conform to certain physical or personality ideals to be accepted by the LGBTQ+ community. About 28 percent of those surveyed went on to say that they felt pressured to change or conceal their gender expression to fit in or be accepted by the LGBTQ+ community.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Pride PH, the widest national network of Philippine LGBTQ+ organizations. Over 400 people participated in the survey.

Image: Tinder

Dating app Tinder has added new stickers in celebration of Pride, specifically for younger LGBTQ+ users.

The new stickers include “My First Pride,” and “I Came Out Online” to “Save Queer Spaces” and “Proud Ally.” According to Mashable, the profile stickers give new dating app users a low-pressure way to be part of the community and display their identity for Pride Month.

The My First Pride and Came Out Online stickers help first-timers to better navigate Pride Month. The idea is to easily find others attending events for the first time so they can make plans and celebrate together.

The Save Queer Spaces sticker helps connect users with others who want to preserve bars, clubs, and community centers serving the LGBTQ+ community, as these are places where they can feel safe being who they are. The Proud Ally sticker helps users show support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Image: Grindr

Grindr has launched its new cross-country bus tour “Grindr Rides America” in celebration of Pride month.

“From the Castro to Stonewall, we’ll be getting around—hop on, get off, and get your dicks on Route 66,” Grindr’s cheeky press release reads. “This is all in celebration of YOU as we toast to 15 years and counting.”

Grindr’s bus tour is also in celebration of its fifteenth anniversary, and the company will offer free HIV testing, PrEP resources, and a full-service photography studio to LGBTQ neighborhoods on its route. According to Mashable, a team from medical service Q Care Plus will be along for the ride to discuss HIV and STI prevention with attendees, as well as screening, treatment options, and how to access prep and doxy-PEP to encourage discussion and support without judgment.

A new study from Eventbrite says that young people are turning away from dating apps to meet at in-person gatherings.

According to Axios, the study showed a 42 percent increase in people signing up for in-person dating events, like speed dating, between 2022 and 2023. From May 2023 to April 2024, Eventbrite also saw more than 1.5 million searches for dating and singles events on its platform.

"This ongoing trend speaks to a broader societal shift where people are craving genuine connections and meaningful experiences tailored to their interests," Eventbrite said in the report, which was released in early June.