Elie Seidman has been talking to the BBC about what impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the online dating industry.
The Tinder CEO admits it has had a “dramatic effect” on the way that people are using the dating app, but insists the past few months have simply accelerated plans for change that the company already had in place.
Overall user engagement is up as 29th March saw more than three billion swipes across the world, the highest amount in Tinder’s history. However, less money is being spent on premium subscriptions as the impending recession forces people to cut unnecessary costs.
Seidman explained that it could be two or three quarters before the full economic impact is revealed and that he’s optimistic that premium numbers are picking up as a few lockdown restrictions are lifted.
He told the BBC: “The unemployment figures are hard to see. I’m very concerned about what happens economically for our society and the impact it will have on so many of our members.”
As the majority of the industry moves toward virtual dating, Tinder is planning to launch its own one-to-one video call feature at some point in Q2. It is also rumoured to be testing a trivia game that will pit users against each other while engaging in group video chats.
This is apparently all part of Seidman’s plan to steer Tinder away from the infamous ‘hookup’ culture it was prescribed with in its early years. He now notes that the new 18-year-olds joining the app have grown up online and will want to use the Match Group subsidiary as a community social media platform.
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