Dating Services

As Russia bans more social media platforms, Ukrainians are turning to dating app Tinder to break through the country’s propaganda network.

The U.K.’s Express said that Ukrainians are using Tinder’s Passport feature to match with Russians, and then sharing images from the war over the app to counteract Putin’s propaganda campaign. Russians have been told via state TV that there is no war, and that Russia is “liberating” people in the Ukraine. Putin has banned the use of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in an effort to control the narrative.

A Slovakian media agency noted the trend in Tinder and is making it easier for Ukrainians to participate by launching its “Special Love Operation” movement that encourages people to match with Russian singles and flood them with images from the war in Ukraine, so they know what is actually happening. 

Apple has extended a new proposal to Dutch regulators, who have continued to fine the company for non-compliance with its order.

The tech giant submitted a new offer to the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) pertaining to the regulator’s order to allow dating apps to use third-party payment systems instead of forcing them to use the Apple Store, according to Tech Crunch. The ACM acknowledged receiving Apple’s proposal but shared no details publicly.

“We will now assess the substance of these proposals,” ACM said in a statement, according to Tech Crunch. “In that context, we will also sit down with various market participants. Our aim is to complete this assessment as soon as possible.”

Image: Match Group

Match Group has announced the launch of its new dating app Stir, specifically designed for single parents looking to date.

The dating conglomerate which owns popular apps like Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid is expanding its suite of apps to focus on certain demographic markets with specific needs, such as single parents. The company found in its studies that many single parents have a hard time on traditional dating apps, and often get ghosted by other members when they say they have children.

"Having kids shouldn't be a dealbreaker when dating," Dinh Thi Bui, Vice President of New Verticals at Match Group, said in the company’s press release. Match Group also noted in its announcement that there are 20 million single parents in the U.S., and that they are often underserved on mainstream dating apps. 

Bumble and Match Group’s female CEOs have spoken out against new legislation in Texas banning access to abortions and have offered to cover travel costs to help employees get care in other states, and Citigroup’s female CEO has announced her company will do the same.

Over the past several months, Republican-led states including Texas have been passing an array of new extreme anti-abortion laws, including narrowing the abortion care window down to a six-week period before a woman typically knows she’s pregnant, allowing citizens to sue those who help someone get an abortion, and even outlawing abortions for ectopic pregnancies, which are not viable and put the mother at risk. States are enacting these laws in anticipation of the Supreme Court chipping away at existing protections later this year, notably Roe v. Wade.

Match Group and Bumble have headquarters in Texas, where some of the most restrictive state legislation in regard to abortion access has taken place in recent months.

Bumble dating app has partnered with Gucci to help support female entrepreneurs, furthering its mission to empower women not only in their personal lives but professional careers. The move was announced at a kick-off party for this year’s SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, where Bumble has its headquarters.

The two companies held a joint event at a downtown Italian restaurant to highlight female innovators across fashion, technology, film, and music, according to Vogue. The event specifically supported the work of DivInc, “a Texas-based non-profit that works to achieve greater social and economic equality” through supporting those who are starting their own businesses. The non-profit is set to start its new Tech Accelerator Program to benefit women who are just starting out. Bumble and Gucci partnered for the event through their joint campaign called Chime for Change, which promotes gender equality.

Gucci was also celebrating the launch of its new store in downtown, Austin.

New dating apps like Thursday and POM are focusing their efforts on pandemic-weary singles ready to connect via in-person events.

According to a profile of the apps in Business Insider, the apps’ founders saw opportunity as singles grew tired of virtual dating during pandemic lockdowns. As restrictions are starting to lift across the globe, singles are eager to mingle in person again, which is providing new opportunities.

London and New York have both become test cities for Thursday’s events, according to Business Insider. The app has been hosting events in these locations, up to 15 per week that are surpassing venue capacity. This might change in the coming weeks with the latest Omicron surge, but so far it hasn’t slowed the company down.