Match

Dating service Match has quietly added some impressive new features to help singles stay in better communication, especially as the pandemic forces people to stay at home.

The app now allows users to message with their best recommendations each day without having to pay or subscribe to a paid service, which is an interesting move since previously Match members always had to subscribe to be able to send messages to other members no matter how well they matched. This move brings Match closer to it's sister brands like Tinder and POF (all are owned by Match Group) which uses the freemium model. These popular dating services allow their users to message for free but, users have to pay to upgrade their account to enjoy premium features like finding out who has liked their profile.

In addition, the app has rolled out some other key features, including:

Image: Match

According to a recent study by Match, a majority of online daters are looking for serious relationships as the coronavirus continues to impact our personal lives. The study also found that different political affiliations can be a dealbreaker for a majority of daters, too. 

The 10th annual Singles in America study was released by Match in early October, and revealed that 59 percent of daters were considering a wider range of potential partners and 55% were fast tracking their new relationships compared to before the coronavirus spread. Moreover, 69% of respondents are “thinking more about who they’re really looking for,” according to a report by The New York Times, and 50% admit they are “no longer chasing after people who aren’t interested in them.”

A new report revealed that dating app scams in the UK had significantly increased during the summer as the coronavirus spread and lockdowns continued, and as more people turned to the apps for connection.

More than 600 reports of fraud a month were reported during June, July and August according to Sky News. In addition, there was a 26 percent increase in reported frauds overall during the past year. Since August of 2019, UK police have seen about 400 reports of fraud per month on average, with victims losing over 66 million pounds total over the past year.

Dating app Match has launched a timely feature for these times. “Dates” allows users to share their social distancing practices and what they feel comfortable with from video chats to meeting in person.

The spread of the coronavirus has impacted societies across the globe and forced people to stay in their houses instead of gathering together, which has impacted dating. Many singles turned to dating apps for connection and to meet people virtually, and a number of apps launched video chat features to keep people connected. Match however is being proactive as we start to go out by offering tools to help people navigate meeting each other in person, since there are different levels of comfort people have right now in getting together.

Dating app Match has debuted a new feature called Vibe Check in April, allowing users to connect instantly via in-app video chat.

The Vibe Check icon appears when two people like one another or start messaging each other and after each agrees to the terms and conditions of Vibe Check, according to Match. When they are in the messaging center, they can select the video icon on the top right corner of the screen, which gives them the option of starting a live video chat with that match right away. Their match can either accept the invitation and begin chatting, or they can decline if it’s not a good time. 

Image: Heartbeat Blog

Dating apps are getting serious about user safety. Following last month’s announcement that new safety features are coming to Tinder, another major dating platform owned by Match Group is adding safety features of its own. Match.com’s latest release is Date Check-In, a communication tool that allows users to keep selected friends and family members informed while they’re on a date.

Going on a date with someone you met online can be intimidating — not just because any first date comes with its fair share of nerves, but also because of the potential to wind up entangled with a con artist, creep or other unsavory character. With Date Check-In, Match users can easily send out an SOS if they feel unsafe. The feature lets users designate three emergency contacts who will receive an automated notification in case of emergency.