Types (Niche)

Beijing-based social app Momo is the latest company to see its revenue fall for the first quarter of 2020 due to the economic repercussions of a global pandemic. Interestingly, while other social networks and dating apps have seen an increase in users over the same period, Momo reported a decline there, too.

According to PanDaily, Momo’s net revenues decreased by 3.5% year over year to $3.59 billion Chinese yuan. The bulk of the revenue  - 64.9% - came from live-streaming services on Momo and its popular dating app Tantan. Tantan on the other hand reported an increase in revenue in the first quarter of 29.3 percent from Q1 of 2019. Tantan contributed 10 percent of Momo’s overall revenue for Q1 of 2020.

GROWLr which calls it self "The Bear Social Network" is a dating service for gay singles. Late in April they launched live 1 on 1 video capabilities for both their iOS and Android apps. Since we are in the in the midst of the pandemic this one-on-one video chat feature is now free for all members. This gives GROWLr members the ability to connect with others through live video while still being safe at home and self isolating.

In a 2 week period at the end of April over 50,000 different members have tried out the live video on GROWLr. This averages out to 15,000 members everyday live video streaming with another member. These statistics shows people wanted the ability to do 1 on 1 video calling built into the app since it provides a quick, secure and easier way to meet and socialize with others during the pandemic.

People around the world continue social distancing as COVID-19 spreads, and as a result, dating apps are seeing a surge of activity among users.

A new study by Dating.com found that there has been an 82% increase in dating app usage since the beginning of March, showing how much people have come to rely on dating apps for connection and meeting people virtually.

The study also looked at where that usage spiked over the month of March when more people than ever began to isolate to stop the spread of the virus, to see how it correlated with positive cases of COVID-19 around the world. The United States takes the lead as the most active country for online dating, notably as the country’s positive cases have significantly increased and it has become the global hot spot of the pandemic.

For heterosexual, cisgender singles, online dating offers a mind-boggling number of opportunities to swipe your way to your next date. There are apps for vegetarians, vegans and bacon enthusiasts, apps for farmers, apps for sea captains, apps for geeks, apps for dog lovers, apps for affairs, apps for hooking up on airplanes, apps for spiritual singles and members of different faiths, apps based on political leanings, exclusive apps for A-listers — and that’s on top of Tinder, Bumble, Match, Hinge, OkCupid and the other general dating apps that dominate the market.

For queer singles, the landscape looks different. Grindr changed the game for men seeking men, but no app for anyone else on the queer spectrum has reached the same level of success. That may change with Lex — a new app that grew out of a missed connections Instagram page. Lex describes itself as a dating and social platform for lesbian, bisexual, asexual, womxn, non-binary, trans, genderqueer, intersex, two spirit and queer people. In other words, almost anyone but cisgender men.

And that’s not all that sets Lex apart. The original Instagram account was inspired by the personal ads found in On Our Backs, a women-run erotica magazine published in the 1980s and 1990s. In a similar vein, Lex profiles are text-only personal ads. There are no photos unless a user elects to link their Instagram account to their profile. Although it’s an old school approach, it feels brazen and modern in an era when profiles are getting shorter and swiping through images is the preferred method of connection for millions of singles.

We might be social distancing, but rest assured - singles are looking to dating apps to keep their love lives going during the coronavirus pandemic. 

A recent survey conducted by Dating.com found that there was a spike in dating app activity among users in countries around the world as the coronavirus becomes widespread. As many as 82 percent of singles are turning online as they self-quarantine in their homes.

From those surveyed, more than 50 percent of daters said that they would be interested in conducting online dates to get to know people they’ve met online to avoid spreading or catching the virus. Thirty percent of those surveyed said that they are going to just stick with messaging and chatting with matches using their dating apps until they are able to meet up in person. Notably, only 5 percent of singles reported that they are going to stop dating altogether until the virus passes.

Bumble is shutting down gay dating app Chappy, part of the suite of dating apps under parent company Magic Lab. Bumble will integrate the service into its own app, effective February 28th.

According to Culture Map Austin, Bumble is encouraging Chappy users to download Bumble and try it out, offering them a week of its premium service for free. Chappy is no longer displaying profiles so essentially the search function is turned off. By the end of February, all of Chappy’s user information will disappear from the app.

Chappy posted an FAQ about the closure on its website, stating: “We’re joining Bumble because we have the opportunity to take what we’ve built together here to the next level by creating a space for healthy and safe connections across the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Bumble is committed to fighting all kinds of inequality, and we’re excited to land our spaceship safely in the Bumble Hive.”