Relationships

China has launched a new state-sponsored dating app to boost marriage rates in the country. Palm Guixi is now available in the Jiangxi province and will use personal data on its single residents there to build its matchmaking platform.

The app itself differs from traditional dating apps like Tinder and Bumble in that the state-run operation picks your matches out based on tracking data, and sets matches up via the app’s blind dates platform according to Gizmodo.

Local governments in the province are organizing in-person matchmaking events as well, encouraging single attendees to wear traditional clothes and play games as a way to break the ice and to celebrate Chinese culture  according to The Guardian.

Tinder has announced two significant new features it is rolling out, including highlighting relationship types (including non-monogamy) and allowing members to display their pronouns on their profiles.

With the new update, Tinder users will be able to choose from a variety of terms to describe their relationship type, and it will display prominently on their profile just under their name and age. They can choose from descriptions like “monogamy,” “ethical non-monogamy,” “open relationship” or “open to exploring,” for example.

According to the press release, Tinder is making this shift to put relationship types more front and center, since it found that 41 percent of Gen Z users are open to non-traditional and non-monogamous relationships. This feature complements the Relationship Goals feature the company rolled out last year, which gave users the ability to specify if they are searching for “Long-term,” “short term” or long-term, open to short-term” among other types, like “just figuring out my dating goals.”

India is now among the fastest-growing dating app markets worldwide, thanks to a growing young population of singles and their changing attitudes towards dating.

In terms of year-over-year growth, India emerged as the fifth largest market in dating app spending in 2022, according to a new study by data.ai Intelligence. Researchers found that Indian users spent $31 million more in 2022 than they did in 2021 despite economic factors like inflation that affect consumer spending.

Match Group, Bumble, and other major dating app companies have made a big investment in India, hoping to capitalize on this attractive market which now brings in millions of dollars in revenue each year to dating app companies.

A group of conservative Catholics based in Colorado spent millions to buy tracking data from dating apps to identify gay priests, and then shared the information with regional Bishops.

The Washington Post, which broke the story, noted that the purchasing and use of the data is legal, and is “emblematic of a new surveillance frontier in which private individuals can potentially track other Americans’ locations and activities using commercially available information.”

The Post heard audio recordings of executive members discussing the organization’s mission and this particular project. Jayd Henricks, the group’s president, did not respond to questions from the Post, but instead posted an article on the website First Things saying he was proud to be part of the group, and that the purpose was to “help the Church be holy…” He also wrote that the group has conducted other research, but did not provide details.

Image: Tinder

Tinder launched a new in-app dictionary which defines certain slang words used by many Gen Z singles, so that older daters can understand their language.

The Tinder Dating Dictionary, crafted by 18 to 25-year-olds at Tinder, was just unveiled in Australia. It provides a detailed list of common dating terminology, including popular terms like “rizz,” “cushioning,” and “kitten fishing.” The company responded to research that showed 62 percent of their target Gen Z market felt like they “spoke a different language” than older singles when it comes to dating.

The recent survey also found that 70 percent of 18-25 year-olds regularly use dating slang compared to 55 percent of 26 to 40 year-olds. Understanding the language, Tinder assumes, will help bridge this gap.

Image: Chispa

Chispa, the dating app for Latine singles, has announced the launch of its new Advocacy Council, created to highlight important issues affecting its diverse community.

The company announced the move in a press release, saying that the Council will also be developing “actionable programs to make a positive impact in the community beyond dating.” Chispa is seeking to build a trusted community and to be a “passionate advocate for the wellness and advancement of all Latines,” according to the release.

The Advocacy Council will meet regularly to discuss important issues facing the community, and to help create initiatives around mental health, finances, education, immigration, equality, politics, and other topics.