Search
Showing results for “Dating Apps”
Jump to a topic
Dating AppsFrom Bumble to Hinge, the dating app industry is made up of mobile phone-based applications that use algorithms to match users with romantic prospects. While it generated roughly $6B globally in consumer revenue in 2024, its financial impacts pale in comparison to its social ones. Dating sites and apps have become a hallmark of modern romance: 53% of US adults under 30 have admitted to using them.
Dating apps evolved from online dating websites, such as Match.com, which launched in 1995 and has since evolved into the dating app parent company Match Group. It now controls roughly 65% of the US market by revenue share with its ownership of industry powerhouses such as Tinder and Hinge. Today, some estimates claim half of all online relationships began on a Match Group platform.
In recent years, dating app business models have become increasingly dependent on "freemium" subscription models. Parts of these platforms are often free to use, but to get certain perks (such as seeing more potential matches per day), users must pay a subscription fee.Explore Dating Apps
What we've found
Find out how popular dating apps' algorithms workThe Tinder algorithm, for instance, historically used to be based on something called the Elo rating system, which was originally created to rank chess players. Hinge uses elements inspired by the Gale-Shapley algorithm, which was created to find optimal pairs in "trades" that money can't buy, like organ donations. MashableA larger share of LGBTQ+ individuals use dating apps than their straight counterpartsRoughly a quarter of LGBTQ+ adults reported using a dating app in the past year as of 2022. The trend seems to have persisted as the years have gone on, with apps like Grindr geared toward the community seeing significant revenue growth in recent quarters as of 2025. Pew Research CenterThe business model for many dating apps is paradoxicalWhile these apps are designed to help people create romantic relationships, dating apps lose money when people find a monogamous relationship and stop using the app as a result. Some call it the dating app paradox. NPRDating apps adopted 'freemium' business models as the market became more saturatedAs dating app user growth slowed and companies like Tinder saw increased competition from upstarts like Bumble and Hinge, the industry has pushed for subscription tier adoption due to pressure from investors for predictable profits and more. The top three US dating apps by market share are Tinder, Bumble, and HingeWhile Tinder took up about 25% of US dating app market share as of 2024, Bumble wasn't far behind at 24%. Up-and-comer Hinge sat in third place with 18% of US market share. Visual CapitalistThe way dating apps make money is changingAs downloads fall across the industry, dating apps are trying to stay competitive by adding paywalls to their business models. The more than $6B dating app industry is largely dominated by Match Group, the parent company of both Tinder and Hinge. This video explores how AI and human behavior are changing the industry one right swipe at a time. The Wall Street JournalStevia is a plant-derived sweetener but the plant isn't approved for eatingSteviol glycosides, the sweet-tasting stuff in the plant leaves, are purified and highly processed before they end up in the food or drinks sold in stores. The US Food and Drug Administration does not allow the use of stevia leaf or crude stevia extracts in food, and the agency also bars them from being imported into the US for use as sweeteners. Consumer ReportsFood companies are exploring 'GLP-1 friendly' diet labelsProducers of foods like Healthy Choice frozen meals are placing "GLP-1 friendly" labels on their food, but there's no regulation about what that label means. Nutritionists say that GLP-1s can help reduce appetite, but healthy, balanced diets are a necessary complement to the medications. Data shows that about half of GLP-1 users quit these medications within a year and then rapidly regain weight, underscoring the importance of also prioritizing healthy eating. NPRTen writers and thinkers on what growing older actually requires of usThe Marginalian's Maria Popova curates a collection arguing our culture has learned to dread aging while forgetting it is a privilege, and that the antidote is sustaining passions strong enough to keep us from turning inward. Voices include Simone de Beauvoir, Joan Didion, Pablo Casals, and Kahlil Gibran. The MarginalianDe-extinction techniques create new species from existing organismsRather than recovering a genetic sample of a lost species and editing it with that of living creature—as has been depicted in science fiction—scientists begin with living cells from close genetic relatives and use tools like CRISPR to swap in extinct versions of specific traits to create new hybrid species. NOVA PBS OfficialCult classics are often defined by their polarizationFilms that reach cult status are far from universally beloved. In fact, fans of cult movies often become such passionate supporters because a title has been lambasted by mainstream audiences. Stat Significant breaks down some of the most polarizing films of all time based on the data behind audience scores. It should come as no surprise that many in the top 10 are considered cult franchises. Stat SignificantPaleontologists apply rules about rock layering, fossilization, and radioactivity to date geological samplesConcepts such as the understanding that older rock layers will form beneath newer ones allow scientists to compare the ages of samples from various layers. Although no geological site preserves evidence across all time, samples can be combined with fossils of known age, such as those dated by analyzing the decay of their radioactive isotopes, to reconstruct Earth's timeline. The Science of EverythingWatch the history of human migration that led to civilizationsStarting in Africa where they hunted with spears and fires, humans would gradually move out of the continent over thousands of years as they navigated crossing deserts, rivers, uneven terrain, and shifting climates. Development of technology, language, farming, and other societal structures helped build up the first civilizations. Kurzgesagt – In a NutshellSee the original websites for companies like Google, Facebook, and AppleExplore archived images of homepages on websites dating all the way back to 1991. Web Design MuseumInvasivorism is a form of ethical eating focused on eating invasive speciesThe culinary approach helps combat the growth of invasive species populations by increasing demand for dishes made with them, but some suggest that creating a market for these species may help prolong their presence by moderating control. Some diners have expressed reluctance toward consuming more exotic species, such as nutria—raccoon-sized rodents. Popular Science'Sweat dating' is a dating approach where partners specifically select by body odorWith dedicated events in major cities around the world, "sweat dating" offers people the chance to judge if a potential partner's smell is a match. Participants show up for an event, do calisthenics, wipe themselves with a cotton pad, and then place the smelly pad in a numbered jar for potential partners to sniff. This Podcast Will Kill YouView this timeline of polio milestones and vaccine developmentPolio has a long history in art and medicine, dating back centuries. It includes a representation of an apparent polio survivor with a shriveled leg in ancient Egyptian art. See milestones in the history of polio in this timeline. Global Polio Eradication InitiativeMany dating app users are beginning to suffer from 'dating app burnout'For younger generations, dating apps have become a primary avenue for creating romantic connections—leaving some users fatigued and contributing to increased feelings of loneliness. Psychology Today57% of men who have dated online say their experiences have been positiveHowever, 51% of female users say that their experiences on dating apps have been negative. LGBTQ+ users are more likely to report positive experiences on dating apps than non-LGBTQ+ users. Pew Research CenterTinder revolutionized dating when it introduced swipe-based interactionsMany dating apps today allow users to "swipe right" to match with someone and "swipe left" to opt out of the match, but Tinder did it first, introducing swipe-based interactions in 2013. The idea for swipes came from the founder's desire to gamify dating—Tinder's early interface was based on a deck of cards that users could sort. CNBCDating app Bumble laid off roughly 30% of its staff in June 2025Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd was criticized at the time for telling staff to "calm down" during a company-wide call informing staff of the layoffs. "I see a lot of freaking-out emojis, y'all need to calm down … everyone's going to have to be adults in dealing with this," she said on the call. (Some users may experience a paywall.) IncThe dating app Hinge markets itself as 'designed to be deleted'Harvard graduate Justin McLeod started Hinge in 2011. Since then, despite competition from larger apps like Bumble and Tinder, it's grown into the third-largest dating app by market share in the US, bringing in roughly $396M in revenue as of 2023. The dating app industry's average customer acquisition cost exceeds $40 per userThis relatively high cost of customer acquisition (according to 2022 data from saturated markets) makes profitable growth increasingly difficult for dating apps, which is why many have pivoted to focusing on their subscription tiers for reliable revenue. Harvard Business ReviewComputer scientists first started trying to optimize dating using computers in the 1950sAlthough early dating sites like Match.com weren't launched until the 1990s, the history of dating apps dates arguably back to the mid-1900s when computer scientists used IBM computers to solve matchmaking and compatibility problems. BloombergNatural toxins produced on plants or consumed by animals may cause food poisoningWhen humans eat plants with certain natural toxins on them—including a family of toxins called aflatoxins that fungi produce on crops like peanuts and corn— they can become ill with food poisoning. Toxins can still harm humans even if animals or plants appear fine to the human eye. The World Health Organization advises that we should throw away moldy or discolored foods, refrain from eating wild plants or mushrooms that aren’t definitively nonpoisonous, and remember that just because something is “natural” it’s not always safe to eat. World Health OrganizationVitamins are micronutrients human bodies need but don't naturally produceEach vitamin is found in specific portions of a normal human diet and supports normal human functioning in distinct ways. Vitamin A is found in red meat, carrots, and potatoes and supports vision and skin health, while Vitamin D (common in fish and mushrooms) helps absorb calcium. See sources and uses of each vitamin with this chart. EatingWellComets serve as time capsules of the early solar systemThe frozen objects preserve the molecular composition of the solar system's formation, dating back about 4.6 billion years. Spectral analysis of the gases they release when heated upon approaching the sun in eccentric orbits reveals this composition and helps assess solar system formation models. In Our Time: ScienceSteve Martin was vying for love on 'The Dating Game' before he was selling out arenasIn 1968, the 21-year-old Martin was a writer for the Smothers Brothers, who had a popular variety show. He appeared on “The Dating Game” as one of the bachelors, attempting to impress the twin sister of his childhood crush. (Spoiler: It worked.) Classic TV RewindCraig Claiborne invented the modern food criticThe New York Times critic began his column "Directory to Dining" in 1962. While there had been restaurant reviews before then, Claiborne's ethical standards and appreciation for a variety of cuisines established a new kind of food critic and, in the process, a new kind of eater. (Some readers may experience a paywall.) The New York TimesMonks and peasants once used cobwebs as canvases for paintingThe tradition goes back to the 16th century, when the delicate canvases were hung in churches and cloisters. The difficulty in painting on the cobwebs was intended to illustrate one's devotion to their faith. Atlas ObscuraSudoku was originally called 'Number Place'While there are earlier variations on the game, the modern version appeared in 1979, though it was then called "Number Place." The game was slightly altered and renamed in Japan. SunDevil TimesHuman records of influenza stretch back more than two millenniaAccounts of flu-like illness appear as early as 412 BCE, when Hippocrates described a sudden wave of cough and fever. Centuries of recurring outbreaks culminated in the first clearly documented pandemic in 1580, spreading from Asia into Europe and Africa. OMG Medical HistoryAn archive of Korean filmIf Bong Joon Ho’s 2020 Oscar-winning film Parasite whet your appetite for Korean cinema, check out the Korean Film Archive’s YouTube channel, which has more than a hundred full-length classic films available to stream for free, some dating back as far as 1930. Many of the titles are remastered and feature subtitles in multiple languages. Start with “Mandala” (1981) and “Aimless Bullet” (1961). YouTubeFireflies light up to provide mating signals and warnings to predatorsVariations in the illumination patterns and flight paths while emitting light have been observed across firefly species. Some species instead rely on pheromones if they are primarily active during the day or have lost the ability to illuminate. Science FridayRadioactive elements can generate electricity, sterilize products, and date artifactsSince their discovery in the 1890s, these substances have been incorporated throughout our daily lives, from treating food packaging and improving microbial safety to their presence in smoke detectors and gauges for ice cream aeration. US Nuclear Regulatory CommissionThe bouncy texture in food like gummy candy is called Q The Taiwanese have a name for the bouncy texture of noodles, cassava dough, boba tea, gummy candies and more: "khiu" or Q. This springy texture adds a further layer for chefs looking to achieve that perfect bounce in their recipes. This page also lists several food items featuring the novel texture. SaveurViews on Nixon pardon softened over time
: Americans initially rejected Ford's September 1974 pardon of Nixon—38% approved it versus 53% disapproved—but by 1986, a slim majority (54%) believed it was the right call, showing that public sentiment softened over more than a decade after the controversy.
GallupThe word ‘vacation’ first appeared in ‘The Canterbury Tales’The word—as the Middle English “vacacioun”—can be found in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” one section from Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous 14th-century text. Until the mid-1800s, the word mostly referred to a time when schools and public buildings were “vacated.” Merriam-WebsterNovels often use perspective as a narrative deviceClassic novels like "The Great Gatsby," "Passing," and "Heart of Darkness" are told from characters' limited perspectives, inviting readers to consider how that narrator might be intentionally or unintentionally crafting the story in a particular way. Big ThinkBefore he had his own show, Pee-wee Herman appeared on 'The Dating Game'Paul Reubens' character Pee-wee Herman would become a sensation with his 1986 children's show "Pee-wee's Playhouse," but in 1979 he appeared as the hilariously naive character on "the Dating Game." It's not clear if the show (or its audience) understood what they were seeing. jomunjrBees evolved from meat-eating wasps that became vegetarianAfter flowering plants first appeared approximately 140 million years ago, some wasp diets would have changed as they consumed pollen-coated insects that would visit these plants. Bees that branched from these wasp species also developed long tongues to slurp nectar and ultraviolet vision to identify flower patterns unseen by humans. Be SmartMachu Picchu, sacred backdrop for your dating app picAnyone who’s been on Tinder or Hinge in the last decade has noticed it: the obligatory Machu Picchu selfie, almost as ubiquitous as those photos of men posing with a fresh-caught fish. How did Machu Picchu, of all places, become a dating-app cliche? This satirical essay from McSweeney’s doesn’t answer that question, but has a great time poking fun at it. McSweeney'sThe strange endurance of consuming blood for healthBlood's importance to humanity is best summarized this way: without it, we die. This importance naturally begets assumptions about its medicinal properties, many of which appear accessible through drinking or eating the fluid connective tissue. This article details the history of blood drinking, from ancient Roman gladiators to modern-day sanguinarians. Atlas ObscuraGLP-1 drugs mimic a natural hormone that triggers appetite-suppressing effectsOzempic, one of the brand names for the drug semaglutide, was originally developed in 2012, to help treat Type 2 diabetes. Among other effects, the drug mimics a naturally produced hormone known as GLP-1, which is released while eating to let our bodies know we are full. Vox
Try another search?