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Hinge Releases Distraction-Free Dating Guide

Dating app Hinge has released a ‘Distraction-Free Dating’ guide, explaining how singles can have quality time with potential partners. Research by the platform found that 80% of users prefer “phone away” dates.

Developed by Logan Ury, Hinge’s Director of Relationship Science, the guide encourages singles to minimise distractions while trying to form new social connections. It includes dating tips as well as 20 different ideas to help build chemistry on dates. 

The platform found that three out of four daters are more hesitant to open up if the person they’re speaking to is on their phone. 

“Face-to-face quality time helps us build intimacy with others, but figuring out how to get the most out of that time can be tough for daters. This guide will help our community focus on each other and have memorable first dates that lead to meaningful second dates,” said Josh Penny, Hinge’s Director of Social Impact.

The guide is available to all Hinge users worldwide.

“Many Americans, especially young adults, wrestle with the experience of loneliness, which has profound consequences on our health and well-being. We were excited to collaborate on this guide with Hinge and advance how daters across the world build meaningful and authentic connections,” said Jillian Racoosin, Executive Director of the Foundation for Social Connection.

You can find out more about Hinge on its website here. 

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Playdate Launches Ad Campaign Around ITV Show

Playdate, the UK dating app for single parents, will be running an ad campaign around ITV’s new reality TV show ‘My Mum, Your Dad’. The new show follows a group of single parents who have been nominated by their grown-up kids for a second chance at love.

Playdate has partnered with ITV AdVentures Ignite, ITV’s commercial incubator for start-ups, to roll out an ad campaign around the new show ‘My Mum, Your Dad’.

The new ITV show is made up of 10 hour-long episodes where audiences will follow a group of single parents as they live together and seek to find true love. The show will be hosted by Davina McCall, and airs from September 11 – 22.

“The alignment of Playdate with the new show ‘My Mum, Your Dad’ was a no-brainer, being the UK’s first dating app for single parents looking for meaningful relationships. We are thrilled to see Playdate reach a wider audience and excited to be part of Playdate’s growth journey”, said Callum Taylor, Head of ITV AdVentures Ignite.

“We first heard about My Mum, Your Dad last year and I immediately knew that we had to work with the show in some way”, said Nevine Coutry, Founder and CEO of Playdate.

“The UK’s first ever dating app for single parents and a new dating tv show for single parents is a perfect match and I’m delighted to bring these two brands together. I was lucky enough to be passed on to the team at ITV AdVentures Ignite who help start-ups like us start their journey on television so I owe them my utmost gratitude for making this campaign possible!”, Coutry added.

Playdate shares that there are currently around 2.9 million single parents in the UK and 320 million single parents worldwide. 

You can find out more about Playdate on its website here or by attending GDI’s upcoming conference in London where Nevine Coutry will be sitting down with Senior Reporter Sean Nolan for a live interview. 

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Bumble Shares Birth Order Dating Insights

Dating app Bumble has shared new insights about how family dynamics and birth order may influence the way you date. For example, first-born people are often organised and natural leaders, while the middle sibling is more adaptable and open to compromise. 

Dr Caroline West, Bumble’s Sex & Relationships Expert, helped craft Bumble’s Birth Order Dating Guide. This guide highlights the common personality traits held by first born children, middle siblings, the last born, and only children. 

“On Bumble, we know that astrology is a key signal of compatibility for many, with more than one million people adding their star sign to their Bumble profiles in the UK”, said Dr West.

“The order of our birth may influence how we behave in relationships, as our family dynamics play a key role in how we experience adult romantic relationships”, she shared.

Shared by Indy100, here is what the guide concluded: 

First born

Green flag tendencies: Organised, Ambitious, Natural leaders

Red flag tendencies: Authoritative, Likes to be in control

“First born children are often organised, ambitious, and natural leaders. This can be handy in a relationship as plans are easily made and date admin remains minimal”, Dr West explained.

“However, this can cause issues if they are used to being in control all the time. Equally, if they are left to do all the organising, they may end up feeling frustrated or taken advantage of”, she continued.

Middle born

Green flag tendencies: Adaptable, Peacemaker, Mediator

Red flag tendencies: Self-conscious, Eager to please, Accommodating

“Middle-born children may be used to compromise, or playing peacemaker between older and younger siblings, so they can be great at finding balance in relationships”, the expert shared.

“However, these skills often come at the cost of advocating for their own needs which can lead to resentment and miscommunication”, Dr West highlighted.

Last born

Green flag tendencies: Sociable, Fun, Charming, Loving

Red flag tendencies: Excitable, Carefree, Self-regarding, Daredevil

Dr West highlights that “Last born children may be adventurous and social as they grew up with older siblings and often tried to keep up with them”.

“The initial honeymoon stage is fun and exciting, however last-borns may struggle as this phase passes and develops into calm emotional intimacy”

“Talk with each other to see where adventure fits into the relationship, while looking at how to face responsibilities that aren’t so exciting”, she advised.

Only child

Green flag tendencies: Mature, Independent, Ambitious

Red flag tendencies: Self-involved, Defensive, Overly-assertive

Dr Caroline West explained that “if you grow up as an only child, you might find that you have a well-developed sense of independence and maturity.

“Whilst used to being on their own, only children may struggle with compromise or feelings of loneliness”

“In relationships, this might impact how arguments are solved, or how partners are supported”.

You can find Dr West’s insights in full at this link.

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Snapchat Improves Security of Social Discovery for Teens

In a range of updates aimed at improving security on Snapchat for teens, the app has limited who can be added as a new friend. The goal is to ensure that when new recommended friends are pushed at teens, they are actually friends, family or reputable people to add to their social media platform.

Snapchat, along with other social media networks, is on a crusade to improve security on its platforms, specifically for younger users who could be the target of manipulative, catfishing and extortionate behaviour. This year it has already bought in more parental controls that can help parents monitor who their child is communicating with on the app. But a new host of updates this month increases security further.

As mentioned, new recommended friends on the app are being tightened up. Someone will only be suggested to teens now if they are already friends with multiple other mutual contacts, rather than just one. The hope is to limit the app to people teens actually know in real life more strongly. 

Snapchat said:

“As a messaging platform for real friends, our goal is to help Snapchatters communicate with people that matter to them and to ensure that the content they view on our app is informative, fun, and age-appropriate.”

Alongside this change, snapchat is introducing a stricter strike system for those reported to be sharing age-inappropriate content. The app is also attempting to up its education, of both teens and their parents. There is a new series on YouTube for parents and teens produced by the app. And new in-app content delivered straight to teens will educate them on safety tips, and ways of spotting potentially dangerous behaviour from other users.

Finding friends online is a perfectly natural thing for the younger generation, even if the idea is newer to older people. Why not use the technology at our fingertips to socialise. However, it needs to be safe, it needs to be done with teens eyes fully wide open, that not everyone online they meet or get recommended to be friends with, is an appropriate contact. Limiting who gets offered and improving education on the issues is a wise step forward.

In a range of updates aimed at improving security on Snapchat for teens, the app has limited who can be added as a new friend. The goal is to ensure that when new recommended friends are pushed at teens, they are actually friends, family or reputable people to add to their social media platform.

Snapchat, along with other social media networks, is on a crusade to improve security on its platforms, specifically for younger users who could be the target of manipulative, catfishing and extortionate behaviour. This year it has already bought in more parental controls that can help parents monitor who their child is communicating with on the app. But a new host of updates this month increases security further.

As mentioned, new recommended friends on the app are being tightened up. Someone will only be suggested to teens now if they are already friends with multiple other mutual contacts, rather than just one. The hope is to limit the app to people teens actually know in real life more strongly. 

Snapchat said:

“As a messaging platform for real friends, our goal is to help Snapchatters communicate with people that matter to them and to ensure that the content they view on our app is informative, fun, and age-appropriate.”

Alongside this change, snapchat is introducing a stricter strike system for those reported to be sharing age-inappropriate content. The app is also attempting to up its education, of both teens and their parents. There is a new series on YouTube for parents and teens produced by the app. And new in-app content delivered straight to teens will educate them on safety tips, and ways of spotting potentially dangerous behaviour from other users.

Finding friends online is a perfectly natural thing for the younger generation, even if the idea is newer to older people. Why not use the technology at our fingertips to socialise. However, it needs to be safe, it needs to be done with teens eyes fully wide open, that not everyone online they meet or get recommended to be friends with, is an appropriate contact. Limiting who gets offered and improving education on the issues is a wise step forward.  

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GDI London 2023: 3x Tickets Left & 3 Days To Go

There are just 3 tickets remaining & a few days to go before Global Dating Insights hosts its annual European Conference in London on the 14th of September 2023. The event is an opportunity for online dating leaders to network, share insights, and socialise.

Collect your tickets and save your seat now!

Following our incredibly successful 2022 conference in London, Global Dating Insights is excited to return to the city on Thursday, 14th of September 2023.

To view the full conference agenda, visit the conference page here.

Hosted at The Dilly hotel in London, speaker sessions will run all day, with lunch and refreshments provided throughout. The conference is followed by an evening of drinks, giving guests an informal networking opportunity to make professional connections.

The night before the conference, Wednesday, 13th of September, we are also hosting an exclusive pre-conference networking session.

Tickets are available now.

Thank you to our sponsors Stream, Social Discovery Group, irisnet, Veriff, WebPurify, Scamalytics, and Netcore Cloud.

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Flirtini: AI Icebreakers Bring About 15% More Replies

Flirtini has shared new statistics about how its AI tools are impacting user interactions. 10% of users have taken advantage of the platform’s AI icebreaker suggestions, resulting in a 15% increase in first-message replies overall.

Since introducing a number of AI-powered features recently, Flirtini has recognised the impact these tools are having on user-to-user conversations. 

10% of the app’s total users have tried Flirtini’s AI assistant, which creates icebreakers when singles don’t know how to start the conversation themselves. Since it’s introduction, 15% more users began to receive replies to their first messages.

Furthermore Flirtini shared that users are communicating in chats 8.8% more, as the platform says that conversations are now easier and less stressful.

This AI assistant, named Fliry, analyses a match’s profile and suggests two relevant icebreaker messages. Users can then direct Fliry to alter these suggestions’ style and length before hitting send.

Flirtini shared that 62% of men who change the first option ask to make the icebreaker more flirty, while 31% of women choose to add more humour.

“On an online dating app, your first message is going to set the tone for your whole interaction, and can often indicate your intentions. Whether you’re using an AI generator to help craft your message or coming up with it on your own,  think of your tone before you send the message: do you want to be flirty and playful, or thoughtful and serious?” said Rikki Dymond, Flirtini’s in-house dating expert and coach.

“When deciding if you want to message someone, it’s important to make sure that you only reach out to people who you’re actually interested in meeting in real life. Remember that there’s an actual human on the other side of that message, someone who has feelings and is likely looking for a real connection”, Dymond advised

You can find out more about Flirtini by visiting its website here.

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The League Launches GoalMate Feature

The League is an exclusive dating app for singles who are driven and career-focused. It recently launched the new feature ‘GoalMate’, which helps users align on common goals and targets for the future.

TechCrunch reports that users on The League will be given over one hundred different options for goals to display on their profile. These include ‘Write the next great American Novel’, or ‘Fill up a passport’, or ‘Climb Kilimanjaro’. Eventually the app will allow users to type in their own goals.

Once users pick out these goals, the platform will suggest potential matches that share similar ambitions. Furthermore, The League will be hosting an area for groups focused on particular goals. This provides opportunities for users to interact with like-minded communities. 

A survey commissioned by The League found that 98% of singles say it’s a turn on when someone is passionate about their goals.

Amanda Bradford, founder and CEO of The League, shared that attractiveness, height and location are not the number one predictors of relationship success. 

“If your mutual goals are aligned and you want to grow and develop as a person in the same way… it’s a much higher chance that the relationship is successful, and they’re not holding you back.”, Bradford shared. 

The League launched in 2015, providing an exclusive environment where new users are put on a waitlist until their profiles are reviewed. The platform was acquired by Match Group last year. 

You can find out more about The League on its website here. 

Image courtesy of The League.

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New ‘Moments’ App Helps Manage Personal And Professional Social Life

Moments is a new app that aims to be your Personal Relationship Manager. Social networks can give a facade that you are keeping up with friends and contacts, the app creator claims. Moments aim is to make sure you actually are checking in and having meaningful connections with your friends, family, and even professional relationships. 

Moments is currently available on the app store, and sure to come to google play soon. It’s the brainchild of developer Robert Keus, and iterates on a previous app of his. Scheduled is an app that lets you schedule in texts to send at a later date. You could schedule a birthday message for example. Moments just take that idea to the nth degree. You can put as many contacts as you would like in the app, organise them into groups, give them different levels of priority, and the app will help you keep track of when you last checked in on them or communicated. 

Push notifications will be sent to your phone when it’s time to check in again, depending on the level of importance you assigned to the contact. The other key idea of the app is to also use AI to help you improve what you send to keep in touch. It will help draft your message or offer little courses on how to improve your messages and interactions.

The app runs a freemium model that lets you have 20 contacts and access to its courses. It’s then $3,99 a month for access to more contacts, and discounted prices available for longer term subscriptions. 

The trend continues in the world of apps, away from tools that help you reach out and communicate with the whole world, towards apps that help you make or maintain smaller circles of meaningful connections. Apps like Moments, are endeavouring to help ensure the relationships you do have, are maintained and beneficial to both you and your connections.

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Startup Roundup – 8th September

GDI is constantly on the lookout for new players in the online dating market, disruptive business models, and innovative technologies.

This Startup Roundup is presented in partnership with The Social Discovery Group, who are currently eager to connect with startups in the social discovery and online dating space.

If this is you, please get in touch with editorial@globaldatinginsights.com to find out more.

  1. Datelink – Get Off the Apps: Datelink is a first-of-its-kind dating technology that allows people to carry their dating profiles in a ring or on a back-of-the-phone dot. Users can tap their ring or dot to another person’s phone and their dating profile gets shared automatically–no app is required.
  2. BeFake – Why be real when it’s fun to BeFake?: The first AI-augmented social network, it reduces the pressure it takes to create that perfect moment, allowing you to create hyperinteresting content using AI.
  3. Mila – Date New People: Mila is an AI matchmaker that suggests compatible people to one another and helps users discover new people.

In Case You Missed It! Here’s last week’s Startup Roundup:

  1. Linkup – Meet new people, IRL: The global solution for people to connect in the real world and meet like-minded people, so they can do more of what they love.
  2. Metalhead Dating – Meet metal lovers near you today: If you want to date Metalheads, you’ve come to the right place! From Iron Maiden and Megadeth to Pantera and Linkin Park, the site is open for all metal fans.
  3. Unlikeany – Discover personalities through video: Unleash your true self with our unique video challenges. Express all facets of your personality, and find out how well you vibe with others.
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Instagram Exploring Expansion of ‘Close Friend’ Services

Instagram has confirmed it is looking into expanding the ‘close friend’ services it provides. This is a response to a reduction in people posting to the main feed. Everyday ordinary people tend to use stories and DMs on the platform that can be targeted at close friends. The algorithms of the platform mean that in recent years, the main feed has become a place dominated by influencers and brands, not your friends and families.

The new feature would allow for a new main feed and posts just for your close friends. It’s being tested in a number of countries, including the UK. A Meta spokesperson responded to Tech Crunch’s report on the feature and confirmed:

“We’re testing the ability for people in select countries to share feed posts with their Close Friends. We’re always exploring new ways for our community to express themselves and connect on Instagram.”

When you narrow the audience a post can go to, people are much more likely to participate. The domination the algorithm gives to high quality produced content from what are essentially professional, make the main feed a less welcoming place. Suddenly the standards of lighting, quality and production, make sharing your quick snap feel unworthy.

Hence why since 2018 and the introduction of close friends on stories, that has dominated the user experience alongside DMs for the average user on the app. Just like the news from Clubhouse yesterday, social networking apps are recognising the power and appeal to the average user of narrowing down people’s audience. When you’re not broadcasting to the whole world, you are much more likely to be active with your friends and meet new ones who share similar interests on these platforms. It all leads back to why social discovery is such a growing space. People want real authentic connections with real people, not social media spaces that are actually just all about the media aspect.