Types (Niche)

Hornet Dating App on Google Play

Hornet has accused Google of discrimination after its app was removed from the Google Play store several times with no explanation. The gay dating app’s CEO, Christof Wittig, expressed concern that Google’s moderators in Malaysia were blocking Hornet because same-sex relationships are illegal in their contry.

Founded in 2011, Hornet has become a popular gay social network with over 25 million users globally. Hornet’s success has propelled it to the top of the market for gay apps in countries as diverse as France, Russia, Brazil, Turkey and Taiwan. The company has also been hard at work expanding its user base in the United States.

Hingie - Hinges new Mascot

Hinge just launched a new international marketing campaign to double down on its new tagline – “designed to be deleted.”

The ads feature a furry and adorable mascot – Hingie – who appears when a young woman logs on to her Hinge account and begins messaging a new guy. Hingie continues to lurk in the vicinity as she goes on dates, enduring all sorts of tortures through their budding relationship until he’s no longer needed – he’s burnt by a candle, bitten by a dog, pummeled with arrows, and crushed by a fan.

When the couple find love and delete the app, Hingie explodes, leaving behind a flurry of little red and pink hearts.

Gay dating app Grindr is headed towards an IPO again, now that the U.S. national security panel CFIUS has dropped its opposition.

Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech purchased Grindr fully in 2018, but the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. found this problematic and forced Beijing Kunlun to sell the app by June 2020. According to a report from CNBC, a source familiar with the situation said the efforts to sell Grindr by the deadline were continuing, even as plans for the IPO were moving forward.

Image: Bumble

Dating app Bumble is going all-in on its mission to empower women. The latest move is launching a new ad campaign to help combat loneliness, featuring activist and actress Jameela Jamil.

The #askingforafriend campaign launches August 4th in honor of International Friendship Day, and will focus on encouraging Bumble users to build friendships to counter the growing problem of loneliness around the world. According to studies, social media is part of the problem, with one in five people saying browsing through their feeds makes them feel lonely.

Image: Tinder

Tinder has announced a new safety feature for those in the LGBTQ community who are traveling abroad.

The new “Traveler Alert” feature allows users to hide their profiles on the app when they feel unsafe traveling in countries and regions that criminalize same-sex acts, according to website Lifehacker. International travelers are subject to the laws of other countries, so it puts LGBTQ folks especially at risk. There are currently 69 countries that persecute same-sex acts, and nine of these allow the death penalty to be imposed, including Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Tinder’s website stated: “It’s important to exercise extra caution if you choose to connect with new people in these countries - as some law enforcement have been known to use dating apps as tools for potential entrapment. Some countries have also recently introduced laws that criminalize communications between individuals on same-sex dating applications or websites and even aggravate penalties if that communication leads to sexual encounters.”

Grindr is turning up the heat for summer with new features and an upgraded premium membership. The new subscription tier, dubbed Grindr Unlimited, will cost users $49.99 per month or $300 up front for a full-year membership.

Grindr Unlimited is being billed as “the most convenient and discreet Grindr experience ever.” In a statement, a spokesperson for Grindr said: “When it comes to your Grinding, every minute counts, and you can’t afford to waste time – or have your clients see you in the grid during dessert.”

Grindr Unlimited comes with all the benefits of Grindr Xtra, the platform’s original premium membership, plus five exclusive perks: