Digest: Hello Group’s AI Chat Boost + RAW’s Women-Led “Justice” | Gaming Apps See Market Boom

Tinder launches new “Modes” for double dates and college students

Tinder formalized its “Modes” feature targeting Gen Z with Double-Date and College options, because apparently single dating wasn’t complicated enough. The Double-Date mode lets you bring a friend as backup (or witness), while College mode creates campus-specific pools where you can match with that cute person from your economics class without explaining why you never actually attended. It’s Tinder’s attempt to make dating feel less like a solo mission and more like a group project. https://fortune.com/2025/09/11/tinder-gen-z-modes-feature-double-dating-college/

Neurodivergent dating app Wable raises $1.5M for global expansion

Melbourne-based Wable secured $1.5 million to bring its neurodivergent-focused platform to the UK and US markets. Founded by Holly Fowler after watching Love on the Spectrum, the app features customizable sensory interfaces and “chat wheels” for easier conversation starters. With over 11,000 Australian users spending nearly 30 minutes per session, Wable proves that thoughtful design beats endless swiping when you’re building genuine connections. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/neurodivergent-dating-app-wable-secures-1-5m-to-fuel-uk-and-us-expansion

BLK names Houston top city for Black Singles

Dating app BLK crowned Houston as the #1 city for Black singles in America, followed by Atlanta and Dallas. The ranking considered factors like dating activity, user engagement, and success rates – basically where your chances of finding love are statistically higher than finding a decent parking spot. Meanwhile, smaller cities showed surprising strength in meaningful connection rates, proving that sometimes quality trumps quantity in the dating game. https://globalgrind.com/6911946/blk-best-cities-black-singles/

Ofcom launches anti-romance scam game that actually works

UK regulator Ofcom created a “serious game” that measurably improves users’ ability to detect romance scams, because apparently the best defense against fake love is gamified education. The interactive experience teaches people to spot red flags like requests for money, overly fast emotional escalation, and profiles that look suspiciously like stock photos. Early testing shows significant improvement in scam recognition – finally, a game where losing means winning at life. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/ofcom-unveils-romance-scam-training-game-and-strengthens-online-safety-rules

AI matchmaker Ailo promises 70% compatibility or no match

Miami-based Ailo uses artificial intelligence to analyze six compatibility areas including magnetism, connection, and timing – because nothing says romance like algorithmic personality assessment. Users only see matches with 70% or higher compatibility scores, potentially solving the paradox of choice that plagues modern dating. Early users report more meaningful conversations, though skeptics wonder if mathematical love formulas can truly capture the chaos of human attraction. https://www.ailoapp.com

Hello Group bets on AI chat tools to revive Chinese dating apps

Chinese dating giant Hello Group is doubling down on AI-powered greetings and chat assistants to boost engagement across its platforms. The company reports that AI-generated conversation starters significantly lift chat metrics, proving that sometimes robots are better at breaking the ice than humans. With overseas expansion accelerating, Hello Group sees AI as the universal translator for digital romance across cultural boundaries. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/hello-group-bets-on-ai-chat-tools-to-revive-chinese-dating-apps

RAW dating app pilots women-led “justice system”

New dating platform RAW introduces a radical concept: women control who stays on the app through a community-driven moderation system. Users can report problematic behavior, and a jury of female users decides whether someone gets the boot. It’s like having a dating app run by your most protective girlfriends, complete with the power to permanently exile anyone who sends unsolicited photos or uses “hey beautiful” as their opening line. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250904686780/en/Datings-New-Justice-System-Women-Control-Who-Stays-on-This-Dating-App

Tinder opens actual breakup shrine in Tokyo

In perhaps the most Japanese marketing move ever, Tinder opened a physical “breakup shrine” in Tokyo where users can ceremonially dispose of mementos from failed relationships. The installation combines ancient spiritual practices with modern dating trauma, allowing people to literally burn bridges before building new ones. Because nothing says “ready to date again” quite like a ritualistic purging of your ex’s belongings in a tech company shrine. https://www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/things-to-do-in-tokyo/tinder-opens-breakup-shrine-in-tokyo/

A24 studio becomes unlikely dating app flex

Film production company A24 has mysteriously become a status symbol on dating app Feeld, with users prominently featuring the studio’s logo in their profiles. The indie film powerhouse behind movies like “Everything Everywhere All at Once” apparently signals cultural sophistication in the dating world – because nothing says “I’m interesting” like broadcasting your taste in arthouse cinema to potential hookups. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/16/materialists-a24-studio-dating-app-profiles-feeld

Global dating app revenue hits $6.18 billion despite download decline

The dating app industry generated $6.18 billion in 2024, with projections reaching $8.9 billion by 2030. Ironically, downloads have decreased since 2019 while revenue grows – users are staying longer and paying more for premium features. Tinder maintains 30% market share with $550 million revenue, while Hinge shows 25% year-over-year growth targeting relationship-minded users who actually want to delete the app eventually. https://www.businessofapps.com/news/dating-app-revenues-exceeded-6bn-north-america-drove-50-percent

Grindr temporarily swaps notification sound for Christina Aguilera

In a brief but memorable marketing stunt, Grindr replaced its iconic notification ping with Christina Aguilera’s voice saying “You got mail!” The change lasted just long enough to confuse users and generate social media buzz before reverting to the original sound. It’s the kind of random celebrity collaboration that makes perfect sense for an app where dramatic flair is practically a requirement for user engagement. https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/dating-app-with-only-ai-women-becomes-a-hit-with-married-men-3244419/

Gamified dating apps prepare for market boom

Industry analysts predict gamified dating platforms will see significant growth as users seek more engaging alternatives to traditional swiping. Features like challenges, trivia games, and unlockable content are being integrated to combat “swipe fatigue” among younger demographics. The gamification trend transforms dating from a passive browsing experience into active participation – though critics worry about turning romance into yet another mobile game addiction. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/from-the-web/gamified-dating-apps-may-see-a-market-boom