DatingNews

Welcome to DatingNews.com! We truly live by our tagline. Our platform was created to provide a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in the dating industry. Here, you'll find the broadest range of news and updates about what's happening in the world of dating. DatingNews.com also shines a light on dating coaches, matchmakers, apps, websites, and much more!

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Explorationships: Apps Adapt to Dating Without Labels

4 days ago | datingnews.com | Hayley Folk

It’s official: Gen Z is rewriting the rules of dating. And I know as a millennial who feels like she’s seen everything from the early aughts of Tinder dating to just recently being ghosted by an Australian man I met on Feeld, I am not so mad at the idea. A change in the dating world? Personally, I welcome it.
Should Dating Apps Take Relationship Anarchy Seriously?

1 week ago | datingnews.com | Hayley Folk

Most dating apps still assume one thing: The folks using apps are there to find “The One” — the special, ultimate person to make the need for dating go away. Sure, maybe not right away, but eventually, someone to match with and date, move in with, perhaps marry, buy the white picket fence, and have children. It’s a tidy (and possibly unrealistic arc in 2025?!)Swipe right, chat, meet, fall in love, exit the app.
11 Sites Like Backpage & Craigslist Personals (May 2025)

2 weeks ago | datingnews.com | Amber Brooks

In 2018, U.S. law enforcement agencies cracked down on personals sites, like Backpage and Craigslist Personals, to make the online dating world a little safer and more reputable.As a result, Backpage has permanently shut down, and Craigslist closed its personals sections, which has left many sexually active singles and couples wondering where else they can place a classified ad and pick up dates online.Not to worry, there are over 8,000 dating sites out there, and many of them have proven effective and safe options for finding casual sex. We’ve picked out some of our favorite free classified sites to help singles who are seeking an alternative website to their old standby. Let’s get to it!Best Sites Like Backpage & Craigslist PersonalsBackpage and Craigslist closed without warning and put many sex traffickers out of business. However, the site closures also threw a lot of legit online daters temporarily off their game as they sought a new classified ad website where they could mix and mingle with their type of people — without worrying about sex trafficking.Over the years, several top hookup platforms have emerged as the most popular alternatives to sketchy personals sites and sex job listings. You can check them out for free and permanently delete your old Craigslist ad. is a scandalous dating site (and mobile app) where single and married people can explore romantic possibilities and have a romantic affair that makes them feel alive.Since 2001, Ashley Madison has attracted millions of curious, restless, and open-minded daters. Its discreet features include a photo-masking tool, so you don’t have to bare everything in this sexually charged and fast-paced database.As a dating site for married people or those seeking to have a discreet affair, Ashley Madison has allowed people to follow their hearts and escape their daily routines for a […]
13+ Dating Sites That Combat Bots & Fake Profiles (May 2025)

2 weeks ago | datingnews.com | Amber Brooks

The internet can seem like a sketchy place sometimes, but I’ve seen the online dating world become a much more legitimate space over the years, thanks to more rigorous screening standards. High-tech verification tools can identify and remove a fake profile or malicious bot, allowing real people on the platform to spend their time and energy on legitimate matches.That said, no dating app is 100% free of bots and fake profiles. Verification processes haven’t yet advanced to that point, but the apps we recommend are large brands with leading safety features to help combat fake profiles.Best Overall Dating SitesFirst up, we’re going to review the most successful dating platforms on the market. These overall best dating sites and apps have a lot going in their favor — and they don’t rely on bots or fake profiles to artificially pad their numbers.A free membership on a legit dating platform can make a world of difference, so don’t be shy about joining up with this lot.A free membership on Match includes unlimited browsing, access to search filters, and some communication options (with limits). Free members can send private messages to the highly compatible matches in their Top Picks list. However, only paid members can message any person they like.Match verifies new members through a phone number, email address, or Facebook login. It also requires a profile photo that clearly shows the person’s face. Its robust security features make sure a fake account will not last long here.In recent years, EliteSingles has helped single professionals adjust to changing trends and use video chatting to stay safe while getting to know a new person.Plus, the dating site has raised the bar by asking users to pay for the privilege of viewing photos and sending messages. This deters bad actors from setting up a fake […]
Is the ‘Black Mirror’ of Dating Apps a Good Idea?

2 weeks ago | datingnews.com | Hayley Folk

Ditto is offering the “Black Mirror” era of online romance, or worse, the ChatGPT era of romance. As a consumer, I wasn’t so sure when I first heard about it. But as a dating industry expert, it couldn’t be the worst idea, right?
19 Most Downloaded Dating Apps by Country (2025 Data)

3 weeks ago | datingnews.com | Amber Brooks

Meeting new people through online dating has become more common. Young people in particular rely on dating apps to find their next romance. “We met on [insert dating app name here]” has become the dominant love story all over the world.It should come as no surprise, then, that each country has its favorite dating app. In this blog post, we’ll review the most downloaded dating apps by country. Before we jump in, always remember that the number of downloads merely shows the popularity of the app in a certain country. It’s not a guarantee of success.That said, buckle up and let’s start our analysis with one of the biggest markets for online dating: the United States. 1. United States – TinderFor better or worse, Tinder has long maintained the status of the most popular dating app in the United States.1 With its swipe matching feature, Tinder gamifies the process of finding a match, and it can be addictive for singles seeking fast and casual conversations.Since it launched in 2012, the Tinder app has been downloaded over 630 million times, and the app arranges an estimated 1.5 million dates per week. Despite its reputation as a hookup app, single people continue to flock to the swiping scene, and Tinder’s popularity shows no sign of waning anytime soon.2. Mexico – TinderIn North America, Tinder reigns supreme. Tinder is the most popular dating app to date in Mexico,2 with Bumble following not far behind. While Mexican and American cultures are certainly different in many ways, there’s a lot of crossover between the dating cultures and media of our two nations. Tinder’s overwhelming popularity in the United States no doubt spilled over into Mexico.Tinder likely resonates in Mexico a bit more than Bumble given the still-real presence of chivalry in the dating culture.3 Mexico is […]
Opinion: Why Should Dating Apps Prioritize Sexual Health?

3 weeks ago | datingnews.com | Hayley Folk

Open your inbox these days, and alongside the usual updates about profile views and new matches, there’s something else creeping in — reminders to get tested and messages about safer sex practice. And honestly? It’s about time!For those of you in the dating industry, you’ve probably spent over a decade revolutionizing how folks meet, flirt, and even fall into the dreaded situationship.
Dating App Boom Incoming? Why Recessions Often Fuel Online Love

1 month ago | datingnews.com | Hayley Folk

No one opens a dating app thinking, “Ah, yes, I can’t wait to spend money!” But in a recession? That paid feature or ping might just be the most cost-effective social outing a dating app user gets all week — especially in a looming recession. It’s funny how an economic downturn has a real way of revealing what we, as humans, actually value. When we’re clutching your wallet a little tighter, the $18 cocktail loses its charm. That Uber to the bar starts feeling like a tax on your loneliness.
The History of Online Dating (1993 to 2025)

1 month ago | datingnews.com | Amber Brooks

Online dating has come a long way in just a few decades. Match.com launched in 1995 — three years before Google — and became a pioneer in a new way to meet people. In those early days, it wasn’t clear online dating would be successful. The idea that singles could find love on the internet was met with skepticism and derision by the general public — at first. By 2007, online dating had become the second-highest industry1 for paid content. How did this dramatic shift take place? Let’s start from the beginning and go through the timeline of online dating’s highs and lows.1993: Match Group Pioneered Online Dating In the 1990s, online dating wasn’t the talk of the town. In fact, a lot of people were against the whole idea. Meeting a romantic partner through the internet was seen as strange and a sign of desperation, only for those sad saps who couldn’t find love the normal way.But that didn’t stop Match Group from moving full steam ahead by founding its company in 1993 and coming up with the world’s first dating site, Match.com, which was launched in April 19952.It wasn’t an immediate hit. People were still figuring out how emails worked, so the idea of searching for a soulmate online was daunting, to say the least.But the Match Group looked forward! And thank God for that, because its matchmaking system has changed countless people’s lives. Some of today’s most popular dating apps are Match Group properties. I’m talking about Tinder, OkCupid, Hinge, and of course, Match.com. What started out as a bold attempt to bring singles together has grown into what we now know as swipe life. 2000: eharmony Takes a Psychology-Based Approach to LoveDr. Neil Clark Warren has had a long and impressive career as a relationship counselor, clinical psychologist, Christian theologian, and seminary […]
Opinion: Let’s Stop Pretending Dating Apps Are Built for Women

1 month ago | datingnews.com | Hayley Folk

Ever seen the shiny marketing campaigns on the subway or even just on social media? One message rings especially loud: We’re here for women. From Bumble’s “Make the First Move” ethos to a new Flure, a new (and sex-positive dating app) that claims to run on women’s safety first, the dating industry is aiming to build spaces where women are empowered, safe, and in control. But is it, actually?