Latest news with #datingapps
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘It's over for short men': Dating app height filter sparks backlash
Tinder is trialling a new premium height filter that allows paying users to select the height of potential matches. The height filter is being tested as a paid preference, influencing the algorithm rather than completely blocking users of certain heights. The trial has sparked controversy on social media, with concerns raised about potential disadvantages for shorter men. Some users believe the filter is a positive development for avoiding time-wasting, while others highlight the prevalence of heightism on dating apps. A Tinder spokesperson stated the company is listening to user preferences and aims to help people connect more intentionally.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Remember Danielle Finlay-Jones? Her death can't be in vain
EXCLUSIVE Jacky Finlay-Jones feels a stab in the heart every time news breaks of yet another woman being killed by a violent man. It's been two and a half years since she lost her only daughter, Dannielle, at the hands of the man she met on a dating app and had been on just three dates with. The pain doesn't ease - it just manifests in different ways. 'I don't think it will ever get easier. It just changes, it's not the raw, numb freshness anymore, it's more now the total realisation that the front door will never open again,' Mrs Finlay-Jones told 'It's that you'll never hear the voice again, or see the face, the smile, and it's just trying to move forward and trying to live your own life as she would want you to do.' For Mrs Finlay-Jones and her son Blake, moving forward is made more difficult by the fact that hundreds of women have been killed by violent partners since Dannielle's brutal death in December 2022. 'As much as we have hoped and prayed that we were the last person this would ever happen to, that things would change, there has been over 100 deaths last year, the numbers are going up and it's just devastating,' Ms Finlay-Jones said. 'Danni would still be here if there had been stricter bail laws for repeat offenders and tougher rules around AVOs. In her case the man, we don't use his name, had five AVOs taken out on him by five different women. 'Yet here he was on dating apps, matching with Dannielle, and only having to give his first name.' Blake Finlay-Jones believes he would have seen the red flags had he met Ashley Gaddie. The protective brother was due to meet the 33-year-old at Christmas lunch but that was thwarted the day Dannielle's body was found. She died in her friend's Cranbrook home where she and Gaddie had spent the night after going out for drinks. Gaddie was arrested after a 12-hour stand-off with police in the Blue Mountains and charged with her murder. But in a cruel blow, Gaddie was found dead in his jail cell just over a year ago where he had been held on remand since his arrest. Gaddie's death didn't bring the family any closure. 'I don't think we had peace. Well, I don't think I did,' Ms Finlay-Jones said looking at her son who nodded in agreement. 'I think we closed off for 16 months to make sure that we did nothing that could be ever used in the court case by the defence,' she said. 'So we had a code of silence. We wouldn't talk to anyone. And we were nearly there, nearly at the committal hearing we had waited 16 months for, and then gone. 'He will always to the outside world be known as the accused. That's hard. 'He was never sentenced for murder. The case just stopped. And I think then you flounder, because you don't know what to do.' The family now has to wait for the case to come before a coroner. They've been told a backlog means their case won't even make the list this year, due to the availability of the small number of Coroners in NSW. 'We understand a small wait, but it has already been one year since the accused took his own life, one year of your lives are still in a holding pattern, one year of any recommendations that may have helped other domestic violence victims come out of the inquest wasted due to the time delay, the wait is just horrible, it is almost like they have forgotten the victim's family and friends,' Mrs Finlay-Jones said. 'No one should have to live in this limbo. We want the government to find a way to get cases heard more quickly, whether that be more coroners, whatever they need to do. 'We can't be the only ones in a holding pattern like this. We want the inquest to happen so recommendations can be made, so Danni's death is not in vain and something good can come of it, maybe other victims can be spared.' A major issue Blake also wants addressed is people like Gaddie being able to have multiple AVOs taken out against them and still be out on bail. 'In our case, five AVOS with five different unrelated women like that's got to be a huge red flag,' Blake said. Gaddie, 33, was half way through a two-year community sentence for stalking, choking and assaulting another woman, was out on bail on another DV related charge in June 2022 when Ms Finlay-Jones was killed, and had a string of current and prior AVOs involving numerous women dating back to 2016. 'These men have a pattern, they are charming, the love bombing, then the controlling, and then the escalation,' Blake said. 'It's almost like a hate crime, like a woman's hate crime and there he is on the end of an app. Swipe the wrong type of situation, a murder waiting to happen.' Both Blake and his mum are trying to move forward and keep Dannielle's memory alive. 'This is not what her life was. This is something very horrible that happened to her. She was extremely passionate about things,' her mum said. 'Her female football was so important to her, her interest in championing neurodivergent people. 'I guess she probably knew for a long time, but she was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 30 and I think for her then, that was like a light bulb moment. 'It explained a lot to her. In one of the child cares roles she worked at she was looking after a child who was autistic. Her most recent job was a teacher's aide at a special school and she just loved it.' For Mrs Finlay-Jones a coronial inquest would help bring the closure they need, though never the justice. 'It's about moving forward, not forgetting, but moving forward, still living because that's what she would have wanted, and to be as happy as one can' she said. 'It's learning to smile again without feeling guilty. The guilt we feel every day, knowing that we survived and she's not here. Yep, it's learning to smile again.' The NSW Government and the NSW Coroner's Court have been contacted for comment. NSW Local Courts confirmed no dates have been set for a coronial inquest into Dannielle's death nor Gaddie's death in custody. Attorney-General Michael Daly told that 'Dannielle Finlay-Jones' family have experienced an unimaginable loss and it is completely understandable they want the coronial process to be resolved as soon as possible'. 'The NSW Government is working to strengthen the coronial system to help provide answers for grieving families and providing extra resources to assist with caseloads. 'Funding worth $18 million for the Bondi Junction inquest has allowed an additional magistrate to be appointed. This ensures other inquests and inquiries can continue to progress.' Mr Daley said the government had strengthened protections for victim-survivors by bringing in two new offences targeting serious and repeat breaches of apprehended domestic violence orders. 'We have also made it harder for accused serious domestic violence offenders to get bail and ensured those who are bailed are electronically monitored by Corrective Services.'
TechCrunch
4 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Tinder tests letting users set a ‘height preference'
Tinder is leaning into dating apps' reputation for superficiality with the launch of a new feature that lets paid subscribers add their height preferences to their profiles. After a Reddit user posted a photo of the new height setting in the Tinder app, a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that the discovery setting has been launched as a global test. Tinder Gold and Premium subscribers in the test group will have access to the feature, but not free users, we're told. In addition, the setting will indicate a preference, rather than functioning as a 'hard filter,' the company says. That means it won't actually block or exclude profiles but instead inform recommendations. '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,' said Phil Price Fry, VP Comms at Tinder, in an emailed statement. '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.' While typically dating apps let users filter for people by more traditional concerns, like someone's age or whether they want a long-term relationship or kids, the height setting is likely to cause more controversy and concern. Since the rise of online dating, a focus on someone's physicality — like their looks or size — has become a primary factor in determining who's worth a match. Tinder helped accelerate this trend thanks to its user interface, which puts a heavy emphasis on looking through people's photos. Other Tinder users often quickly react to those photos with left or right swipes to indicate interest. In addition to exposing people's preferences for the conventionally attractive, dating apps' popularity led to a culture where a bias toward taller men became the norm. It's not uncommon to come across profiles where women state they're only looking for matches who are at least 6 feet tall, for instance — even if in real life they'd be more flexible about this requirement. 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 Tinder has even poked fun at this trend in previous years, like when it made an April Fools' Day announcement that it would introduce a 'height verification' feature in its app. (Many men didn't find this particular joke funny.) The height bias has also been the subject of other parodies, like when designer Soren Iverson imagined a version of Tinder that let men override users' height requirements for a fee. The company may hope that the addition of a height setting could encourage more women to use and pay for the app, which tends to be more heavily dominated by men both in the U.S. and internationally. The test's launch follows Tinder parent Match's recent earnings, which revealed a 5% fall in paying users. Paid subscribers across Match's dating apps fell to 14.2 million in the first quarter, down from 14.9 million users a year ago.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Can Algorithms Revamp Love? The Neurobiology Behind AI-Driven Bonding
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MARCH 18. Photo by. Love may be timeless, but the ways we fall into it (or swipe right for it) are anything but. As artificial intelligence redefines human interactions, one question persists with scientific urgency and cultural weight: What happens to the brain's romantic blueprint when intimacy is filtered through screens, swipes and simulations? Enter: Algorithmic romance or the experience of not only choosing our partners differently but neurochemically responding to them in ways shaped by technological mediation. Whether you're bonding through a dating app, flirting via avatars, or maintaining emotional intimacy with an AI companion, your brain is unquestionably adapting. And the latest neuroscience helps us understand precisely how. Romantic love activates some of the most ancient reward circuitry in the brain, especially the mesolimbic dopamine system. In both early and long-term relationships, dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens stimulates pleasure, motivation and focused attention toward a romantic partner. But this same reward system also overlaps with addiction pathways, offering insight into why we often crave love as intensely as a drug. Digital platforms like dating apps or AI-enhanced matchmaking tools are now replicating the anticipation and novelty central to dopamine-driven behaviors. The "intermittent reward" model, used by platforms to encourage user engagement, mimics the unpredictability of romantic reward, triggering compulsive checking, swiping, seeking, and beyond. In neurobiological terms, however, algorithms have learned to manipulate the brain's dopaminergic system by amplifying its responsiveness to cues of reward and attention, even before love begins. Naturally, this raises a necessary question for both users and designers: If love is already a neurochemical feedback loop, what happens when the loop is artificially optimized? Known as the "bonding hormone," oxytocin is crucial to emotional closeness, trust and long-term attachment. Released during physical touch, eye contact and emotional disclosure, oxytocin builds the foundation of what makes love feel secure and safe. It is also instrumental in differentiating romantic bonds from platonic ones, working in tandem with vasopressin and dopamine to create lasting pair bonds. In digital or AI-mediated relationships, though, these oxytocin-releasing triggers may be absent or artificially simulated. Chatbots designed to offer empathy or erotic roleplay, such as Replika, attempt to mimic emotional responsiveness. Yet, studies have shown that while some users report genuine emotional connection and stress relief, the neurochemical mechanisms behind these reactions remain poorly understood and under-researched. The risk? When real oxytocin-inducing experiences are substituted with digital surrogates, our internal bonding systems may engage in misleading ways, reinforcing emotional dependency on artificial agents that cannot reciprocate or evolve biologically. Early-stage love is both majestic and stressful. Elevated cortisol levels during romantic infatuation have been documented across multiple studies, suggesting that love initially activates the body's stress response, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This "love-induced hypercortisolemia" primes the body for social risk-taking, enhancing alertness, memory formation and emotional sensitivity, to name a few. Within a digital context, this stress-reward balance becomes skewed. Ghosting, infinite choice, algorithmic rejection and performance pressure can prolong cortisol spikes without the neurochemical resolution that physical proximity or mutual presence offers. What should be a bonding experience instead can become a feedback loop of stress without release and love without anchoring. Ironically, then, the platforms designed to help us connect may be triggering the very hormonal mechanisms that undermine lasting emotional intimacy. From prairie voles to humans, one biological goal of love has remained invariant: stable pair bonding for mutual care and survival. The same oxytocin and vasopressin systems responsible for long-term romantic bonding in monogamous species are also activated in human relationships, with observable effects on neural regions like the anterior cingulate cortex, ventral pallidum and insula. But what happens when digital avatars or non-human partners trigger these systems? Emerging research suggests that emotionally responsive AI can provoke attachment behaviors similar to those observed in human-human interactions. Nevertheless, when taken with a grain of salt, the stability and biochemistry of these bonds are still speculative. Without the hormonal feedback of touch, scent or bi-directional emotional co-regulation, these connections may produce the illusion of intimacy without the neurobiological reinforcement required for sustainable, embodied attachment. This mismatch could explain why some AI companionships intensify feelings of loneliness or heartache over time: the body is asking for the physiological correlates of love and receiving none. Understanding the neurobiology of love isn't about stripping it of its mystery but about reclaiming self-agency. In other words, when desire is increasingly automated, knowing how love shows up in the brain gives us a blueprint for designing ethical, human-centered technologies that support real, optimal emotional health. That means, for instance, creating platforms that respect attention rather than hijack it, encouraging behaviors that support oxytocin release in real life, not just in code and integrating safeguards to protect vulnerable users from the psychological risks of emotionally deceptive tools. Romantic love, as neuroscience affirms, is not just an emotion. It is a motivation system grounded in hormonal feedback, evolutionary design and cognitive vulnerability. If our digital tools are shaping this system, then it might be worth asking: Are they amplifying love or engineering it in the opposite direction? Desire isn't digital. Even as algorithms learn to simulate intimacy, mirror our preferences, and replicate emotional harmony, the biological infrastructure of love remains profoundly human. Dopamine, oxytocin and cortisol don't respond to data; they react to presence, touch, voice and trust built over time. These neurochemical loops evolved not for seamless UX experiences but for survival, connection and embodied care. The nervous system remembers what authenticity feels like. And while AI may shape how we initiate relationships, it cannot substitute for the rituals (physical, emotional, sexual, hormonal) that anchor real love in the body. The future of intimacy will be technologically informed and shaped, yes, but it will also and hopefully remain biologically authentic. The most meaningful connections will hardly be algorithmically perfected but felt, co-regulated and lived in skin, in memory and the splendid rhythm of the human heart.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
My aunt, 69, recently told me she lost her life savings in a romance scam — where does she go from here?
With the increasing popularity of dating apps and social media, romance scams have been on the rise in recent years. Back in 2022, approximately 70,000 Americans had reportedly been victimized in a romance scam, with the financial losses totalling around $1.3 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. And while that number of victims may sound alarming, it's important to note that the 70,000 total only represents those who reported the scam to the police. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) As you may understand, some victims might have been far too embarrassed to report the crime and admit that they were swindled out of money. In fact, one Reddit user recently shared that their aunt is one of those silent victims. As they explained in their Reddit post, the user's aunt — who was not named, but let's call her Shirley — lost $270,000 in a romance scam and decided not to report the crime to the police. Making matters worse, Shirley is retired and is now forced to sell her home, and her ex — she's also in the middle of a divorce — is entitled to one-third of the proceeds from the sale of the house. The Reddit user, concerned about their aunt's wellbeing, now wants to help Shirley recover financially and get back on her feet. Unfortunately, the best course of action would have been to immediately report the crime to the police and the Federal Trade Commission, but that doesn't mean this Reddit user can't be helpful. First things first, it's critical to make sure that Shirley doesn't lose any more money to the scammer. The Reddit user can start by helping her with securing all of her accounts with new passwords. The next step would be to alert all of Shirley's financial institutions and block further communication from the scammer. If Shirley's accounts are completely compromised, consider helping her with setting up a new bank account and moving any money that she still has into that secure location. Once the remaining funds are secured, it's time to assess the damage. Shirley lost $270,000 to the scammer, but as the Reddit user notes, her financial troubles don't end there. During this ordeal, Shirley racked up $40,000 in credit card debt. She also borrowed money from family and friends, and she still has to pay off her mortgage once she's sold her house. This, as you can see, is a tough situation for a retiree who lives on a fixed income and recently lost her life savings. The next step would be to tally up Shirley's current balances owed in order to determine the full extent of the financial damage. After a careful look at her debt, the Reddit user might want to urge Shirley to reconsider filing a report with the police. While Shirley may be too embarrassed to admit her mistake, filing a report and kickstarting an investigation can potentially identify the scammer and assist in recovering the lost funds. Getting the money back may be top of mind, but it's important to be aware of the danger of recovery scams. These scams offer to help with recovering lost money from an online scam, but the scammers charge an upfront fee while requesting personal information, which could set Shirley up to be targeted again in the future. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs After getting the authorities on the case, the next step is for Shirley to start rebuilding her finances. She can start by creating an inventory of all of her remaining assets, including the money she stands to make from selling her home. If she hasn't yet applied for Social Security benefits, applying now could provide a much-needed income stream. But before digging deep into Shirley's financial situation, this Reddit user would be wise to connect their aunt with a financial advisor. This is a unique situation that requires careful assessment and planning, and a professional advisor can help with creating a plan to pay off debts and rebuild Shirley's finances. Unfortunately, this situation will force Shirley into making some tough decisions that could significantly alter her retirement plans — one of those tough decisions might include declaring bankruptcy. With this in mind, Shirley could use all of the professional help she can get. A financial advisor can also help Shirley with creating a budget, as Shirley will likely need to make some spending cuts in order to make ends meet with her reduced net worth. Shirley will also need to seek out an affordable housing situation, which might involve downsizing to a smaller place or renting out rooms in her current home to offset the costs. In a more drastic move, she might consider relocating to a more affordable city. A financial advisor's assistance can help Shirley with navigating all of these big decisions. However, even with a financial advisor's help, it will be tough for Shirley to rebuild her finances without a steady income stream. With this in mind, Shirley might consider taking on a part-time job or building a flexible side hustle so that she can use the incoming funds to tackle her financial priorities. It won't be easy, but with a steady part-time income stream and help from a professional financial advisor, Shirley can put her best foot forward in her effort to rebuild her finances. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Sign in to access your portfolio
