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TechCrunch
6 hours ago
- Health
- TechCrunch
Hinge CMO Jackie Jantos hopes to help make Gen Zers less lonely
Dating apps have developed a bad reputation lately. People ghost others, which means they simply stop responding to someone they once shared frequent correspondence with. There appear to be slim pickings, despite living in big cities like New York, and did we mention a lot of these apps now cost money? At the inaugural SXSW London, TechCrunch caught up with Jackie Jantos, the CMO and president of Hinge, to talk about how the company is marketing itself to a new generation in what has become a listless dating scene. 'This is a generation that has grown up with a deep understanding of how digital experiences are created and what they are trying to get out of them,' Jantos said in an interview with TechCrunch. She listed out the traits Gen Zers want most out of their brands, like transparency and authenticity. It's a diverse generation that spends less time in person than its predecessors. 'If you're not building with inclusion at the center of everything, you're just not going to build a meaningful product or marketing activation to engage them,' she said. The dating app landscape has evolved over the past few years, seeing companies like Hinge working overtime to try and attract and sustain user attention. Tinder, for example, has struggled with growth in the past few years, culminating in the stepping down of its CEO a few weeks ago. Bumble is also seeing a slowdown in user growth. Hinge and Tinder are both owned by Match Group. The Q1'2025 report released by Match Group shows that Hinge is faring a bit better than its sister company. The report showed that Hinge saw an increase in direct revenue, compared to Tinder, and that the app's downloads were 'strong' across the English-speaking and Western European markets. Techcrunch event Save now through June 4 for TechCrunch Sessions: AI Save $300 on your ticket to TC Sessions: AI—and get 50% off a second. Hear from leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Khosla Ventures, and more during a full day of expert insights, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking. These low-rate deals disappear when the doors open on June 5. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW Jantos said Hinge is implementing and toying around with numerous new features at the moment. For example, it has added a quota on how many chats one person can have at one time so that a user isn't simply 'collecting chats.' 'We want to encourage people to close out chats if you're not interested in someone,' Jantos said, adding that hopefully this encourages people to focus on a smaller number of conversations that can successfully move toward a date. She said Hinge is testing its coaching feature, which looks to give users tips about building their profiles. The Match Group Q1'2025 report said Hinge was also looking to introduce Warm Introductions soon to 'highlight shared interests to improve match quality.' Jantos was coy on details but said there was a new introduction that would hopefully encourage users to 'spend a little more time discovering each profile.' 'Our recommendations have gotten really strong with the new AI recommender that we recently released,' she added. (Match Group's Q1'2025 news report said the new feature, launched in March, has already driven a 15% increase in matches and contact exchanges.) Jantos said that Hinge is also hoping to boost its safety features with AI and that overall, tools on the app will 'continuously improve because of AI.' 'But also new tools will come along the wya to coach you along the [dating] journey,' she said. Jantos flew into the inaugural SXSW London to give a talk about the loneliness epidemic impacting Gen Zers. There is no shortage of stories and reports on how young people are connecting less with the outside world, glued to their phones and virtual realities. Jantos told TechCrunch this is one reason Hinge launched its One More Hour fund in 2023. The fund seeks to invest $1 million into organizations to foster more in-person connections among Gen Zers. She's heard feedback from young people on her team that there are barriers to hanging out these days, including how expensive it's become and finding places that feel safe. 'We want to lower the barrier so people just want to come out because we know if they build that skill, it's more likely when they're on our product, they'll be more likely to be comfortable meeting someone up for a date,' she said. And, as expected, Hinge is throwing events, filling ads with creators, such as writers, to 'meet the audience where they are.' It created a Zine and campaign about Hinge success stories to hopefully inspire Gen Zers to go find love. And even better, on the Hinge app.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Q1 Earnings Highlights: Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU) Vs The Rest Of The Consumer Subscription Stocks
Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company's progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU) and the best and worst performers in the consumer subscription industry. Consumers today expect goods and services to be hyper-personalized and on demand. Whether it be what music they listen to, what movie they watch, or even finding a date, online consumer businesses are expected to delight their customers with simple user interfaces that magically fulfill demand. Subscription models have further increased usage and stickiness of many online consumer services. The 8 consumer subscription stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts' consensus estimates by 1.9% while next quarter's revenue guidance was in line. Luckily, consumer subscription stocks have performed well with share prices up 26.2% on average since the latest earnings results. Spun out from Netflix, Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU) makes hardware players that offer access to various online streaming TV services. Roku reported revenues of $1.02 billion, up 15.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts' expectations by 1.5%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a slight miss of analysts' number of total hours streamed estimates and a significant miss of analysts' EBITDA estimates. The stock is up 8.2% since reporting and currently trades at $72.80. Read our full report on Roku here, it's free. Founded by a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor and his Ph.D. student, Duolingo (NASDAQ:DUOL) is a mobile app helping people learn new languages. Duolingo reported revenues of $230.7 million, up 37.7% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 3.4%. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates and full-year EBITDA guidance exceeding analysts' expectations. Duolingo delivered the fastest revenue growth and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The company reported 130.2 million users, up 33.4% year on year. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 31.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $526.99. Is now the time to buy Duolingo? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. Originally started as a dial-up service before widespread internet adoption, Match (NASDAQ:MTCH) was an early innovator in online dating and today has a portfolio of apps including Tinder, Hinge, Archer, and OkCupid. Match Group reported revenues of $831.2 million, down 3.3% year on year, in line with analysts' expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted a decline in its users and a slight miss of analysts' number of payers estimates. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $30.40. Read our full analysis of Match Group's results here. With courses ranging from investing to cooking to computer programming, Udemy (NASDAQ:UDMY) is an online learning platform that connects learners with expert instructors who specialize in a wide range of topics. Udemy reported revenues of $200.3 million, up 1.8% year on year. This number beat analysts' expectations by 1.5%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also logged EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts' expectations and a solid beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates. Udemy had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The company reported 17,216 active buyers, up 7.1% year on year. The stock is up 13.4% since reporting and currently trades at $7.80. Read our full, actionable report on Udemy here, it's free. Started by the co-founder of Tinder, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble (NASDAQ:BMBL) is a leading dating app built with women at the center. Bumble reported revenues of $247.1 million, down 7.7% year on year. This result met analysts' expectations. Taking a step back, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts' expectations. Bumble had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The company reported 4.01 million active buyers, down 0.2% year on year. The stock is up 31% since reporting and currently trades at $5.75. Read our full, actionable report on Bumble here, it's free. In response to the Fed's rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed's 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump's presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Tinder's New Height Filter Sparks Fierce Debate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The end of "short king spring" may be in sight as the summer months arrive and the popular dating app Tinder tests a "height" filter. A spokesperson for Tinder told Newsweek, "We're always listening to what matters most to our Tinder users—and testing the paid height preference is a great example of how we're building with urgency, clarity, and focus." Why It Matters When it comes to dating, preferences about height have often sparked debate. A 2013 study from ScienceDirect found that women prefer their partners to be 8 inches taller than them, while men prefer to be 3 inches taller than their partners. As of 2022, Tinder, one of the most popular dating apps in the U.S., had 75 million monthly active users. The platform, long seen as part of "hookup culture," is undergoing a rebrand in a bid to appeal to Gen Z. Spencer Rascoff, the CEO of Match Group, the app's parent company, hopes to make Tinder known for more serious dating. Tinder's headquarters on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, on August 28, 2020. Tinder's headquarters on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, on August 28, 2020. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images What To Know Tinder is testing the new feature for its gold and premium subscribers. According to the company, the feature is a preference rather than a hard filter, so it doesn't outright block or exclude profiles but acts more as a guidepost. Popular dating apps, such as Hinge and Bumble, already have height filters available behind a paywall for premium users. Though height filters aren't new among dating apps, and height preferences for both men and women have long been well documented, the new filter has sparked a fierce debate online. On X, formerly Twitter, user @uncanny_eli, a media and culture writer, wrote: "Men and women alike are derangingly obsessed with men's heights in theory but it doesn't really translate irl? every day i live my short guy life and it's not much issue meanwhile the popular wisdom on being a 5'6" man is 'Kill Yourself Now.'" Other users asked for a "weight filter" for women. User @Rich_Cooper wrote, "When is age and weight verification coming for women?" "Do we get a weight filter," user @Cryptoking commented. Though the filter has upset some social media users, others have poked fun at the online response. User @kmmyvu wrote on X that it was "hilarious seeing short men act like they're oppressed." Hinge and Tinder are owned by the same parent company, and as of July, Rascoff is set to lead Tinder in addition to being the CEO of Match Group. In a LinkedIn post published on May 28, Rascoff wrote, "We are rethinking not just what we build but how we build it." According to The Wall Street Journal, Rascoff recently told a group of investors: "This generation of Gen Z, 18 to 28—it's not a hookup generation. They don't drink as much alcohol, they don't have as much sex." He added, "We need to adapt our products to accept that reality." What People Are Saying A spokesperson for Tinder told Newsweek: "This is part of a broader effort to help people connect more intentionally on Tinder. Our new product principles guide every decision, and this one speaks directly to a few: prioritizing user outcomes, moving fast, and learning quickly. Not every test becomes a permanent feature, but every test helps us learn how we can deliver smarter, more relevant experiences and push the category forward." X user @enemycharlie wrote: "Not to side with the men here, but why do women 5'3" and under have such strong preferences for men 6ft+. you are a hobbit, 5'8" is tall enough. you can't even tell when your 5'8" boyfriend is lying about being 6'0" because you're so short." Bodybuilder Jeff Nippard wrote on X: "This really isn't a big deal. As a short man, if a woman doesn't find you attractive because of your height then why would you want to be with her anyway?" What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether more features will be released as part of Tinder's rebrand.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tinder revamp aimed at Gen Zers who 'don't have as much sex'
Tinder's reputation as a 'hookup app' will be a thing of the past if the app's new chief executive has his way. Tinder revolutionized dating for a generation of millennials upon its launch in 2012, but it has been losing appeal among members of the Gen Z demographic, or people aged 18-28, not including those too young to download dating apps. Now, Spencer Rascoff is hoping to win over Gen Zers who he says 'don't have as much sex.' 'This generation of Gen Z, 18 to 28 — it's not a hookup generation. They don't drink as much alcohol, they don't have as much sex,' the 49-year-old chief executive of Tinder owner Match Group, told investors this month, per the New York Post. 'We need to adapt our products to accept that reality,' added Rascoff, the co-founder and former CEO of real estate marketplace Zillow. The company wants to create low-pressure ways for people to meet on the app, such as a 'double dating' feature, to win over Gen Zers. The feature allows users to pair up with friends and match with other pairs for dates. It will be launched globally this summer, Rascoff told the Wall Street Journal. Tinder has been testing 'double dating' in Europe and has seen positive results. Rascoff took the top job at Match Group, which owns Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid, a few months ago, and has said that fixing Tinder is his main concern. He recently announced that he'd be stepping in to lead Tinder, too, after Faye Iosotaluno posted on LinkedIn that she will depart in June after less than two years on the job. In an internal memo, Rascoff asked staffers to speed up product changes, leverage artificial intelligence and focus on improving user safety, according to the Journal. Employees should focus on improving the user experience, even if it comes at the expense of short-term revenue, he said. 'Users don't want more matches, they want better ones,' he said in the memo. Gen Zers have left the platform in search of dating apps that could lead to more lasting relationships. Among 500 dating app users, about 85% said they didn't use Tinder because of its association with 'hookups,' according to a 2023 Wells Fargo survey.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tinder's new head pushes company to move away from 'hookup' reputation and rebrand for Gen Z users
Spencer Rascoff, the CEO of Tinder parent company Match Group, is promising to change the reputation of Tinder as a casual hookup app into a more serious dating app. "This generation of Gen Z, 18 to 28—it's not a hookup generation. They don't drink as much alcohol, they don't have as much sex," Rascoff said to a group of investors, according to The Wall Street Journal. "We need to adapt our products to accept that reality." Unlike the millennial generation, which helped popularize Tinder and shaped the dating app into a domestic and international success, Gen Z appears to be less interested in purely casual dating experiences. Some commentators believe that Gen Z is a generation that is tired of "ghosting," which is defined as suddenly cutting off communications with another person without warning, and instead seeking more authentic dating experiences. Washington State Democrats Want To Tax Online Dating Apps Rascoff signaled that Gen Z's dating preferences are key to the future success of Tinder as a company. "Users don't want more matches, they want better ones," Rascoff wrote in the memo viewed by The Wall Street Journal. Read On The Fox News App Better matches, according to Rascoff, means fundamentally shifting the way that users interact with Tinder. "Think of Tinder like a bar where people come together to meet new people," Rascoff said. "We have to innovate to drive more people into our establishment, and that means renovating our bar." Rascoff is slated to take the top role at Tinder as well, in a leadership shift that shows the company's attempts to meet changing dating trends for a younger generation of users. How To Not Fall In Love With Ai-powered Romance Scammers While Gen Z struggles with "ghosting" in dating, they also struggle to meet important life milestones like marriage. In the dating world, Gen Zers have access to more potential partners than perhaps any other generation before them. Yet, at the same time, this age group, now between 13-28 years old, is getting married years after their Baby Boomer grandparents did, swiping through potential partners, and going out on dates with multiple people only to face higher rates of article source: Tinder's new head pushes company to move away from 'hookup' reputation and rebrand for Gen Z users
