Difference between revisions of "Grindr"
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==History and Use== | ==History and Use== | ||
| − | Grindr was created by tech entrepreneur Joel Simkai in Los Angeles, California. <ref> " ", Israeli Founder of Grindr Talks About Growing Up Gay and Coming Out to His Family, Doron Halutz,Jun 28, 2016, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/the-israeli-loins-behind-grindr-1.5253351 </ref> The app started as an Apple app as of March 25th, 2009. There were online dating services before Grindr, such as gaydar<ref>"Gay Dar", https://www.gaydar.net/ </ref>, but they were web based platforms and not available as mobile apps | + | Grindr was created by tech entrepreneur Joel Simkai in Los Angeles, California. <ref> " ", Israeli Founder of Grindr Talks About Growing Up Gay and Coming Out to His Family, Doron Halutz,Jun 28, 2016, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/the-israeli-loins-behind-grindr-1.5253351 </ref> The app started as an Apple app as of March 25th, 2009. There were online dating services before Grindr, such as gaydar<ref>"Gay Dar", https://www.gaydar.net/ </ref>, but they were web based platforms and not available as mobile apps. |
| + | In January 2011, Grindr won the IDate Award for Best Mobile Dating App. Later that year Grindr launched the app for Android devices. Furthermore, the updated version of the app allowed users to download a free version or premium version. The premium version of the app featured no banner ads, favorites, more visible profiles, and the capability of push notifications. The application continued to win awards the following years.<ref> Grindr Named ‘Best Mobile Dating Site’ at 2011 iDate Awards, Grindr Blog, January 24, 2011, https://web.archive.org/web/20120311215017/http:/blog.grindr.com/2011/01/grindr-named-%E2%80%98best-mobile-dating-site%E2%80%99-at-2011-idate-awards/</ref> | ||
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| + | Grindr began receiving criticism aroundAugust 2013 when an updated version of the app was pushed out. This update required users to provide a valid email address, which was criticized because of the decrease in anonymity. Grindr said this was to improve portability and reduce overall spam on the application.<ref> "Overrun by spambots, gay dating app Grindr to end anonymous signups", Casey Newton, Jul 26, 2013, https://www.theverge.com/2013/7/26/4560338/hey-sexy-overrun-by-spambots-gay-hookup-app-grindr-to-end-anonymity</ref> | ||
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| + | Grindr was sold at a 60 percent stake to a Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech. Founder and CEO, Simkhai, called the sale "a huge vote of confidence in our vision to connect gay men to even more of the world around them." <ref>"Chinese Gaming Firm Buys 60% Of Gay Dating App Grindr For $93M", Jon Russell, January 11, 2016, https://techcrunch.com/2016/01/11/chinese-gaming-firm-buys-60-of-gay-dating-app-grindr-for-93m/</ref> The remainder of the company to Kunlun Tech early 2018.<ref>"Grindr planning stock market listing as Chinese owner gives approval for float, Caitlin Morrison, August 30, 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/grindr-stock-market-listing-gay-dating-app-kunlun-group-ipo-china-a8514476.html</ref> | ||
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| + | In 2019 the United Stats Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) in the United States informed Kunlun that Chinese ownership of Grindr constitutes as a national security risk. <ref>"Exclusive: Told U.S. security at risk, Chinese firm seeks to sell Grindr dating app", Carl O'Donnell, Liana B. Baker, Echo Wang, March 27, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-grindr-m-a-exclusive-idUSKCN1R809L</ref> CFIUS' have been having concerns surrounding the safety of personal data apps handle, especially if it is in any way involving the United States military or intelligence personnel. However, neither company nor CFIUS representatives commented on the case, but Kunlun has been forced to sell its stake in Grindr by June 2020.<ref>"From ‘Kànzhe?’ to ‘Guardare?’ – Grindr’s New Owner May Be Italian", Staff, January 22, 2020, https://www.wehoville.com/2020/01/22/from-kanzhe-to-guardare-grindrs-new-owner-may-be-italian/</ref> | ||
[[File:BenRogersFacebook.png|400px|thumb|right|Ben Rogers' Foundation Facebook Group]] | [[File:BenRogersFacebook.png|400px|thumb|right|Ben Rogers' Foundation Facebook Group]] | ||
Revision as of 22:14, 12 March 2020
Grindr
Grindr, launched in 2009, is the largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.[1] Grindr was the first gay dating app to launch on the iTunes App Store,[2] and has four million daily active users in 200 countries. The app uses geolocation through mobile device's hardware to display people from nearest to furthest away from proximity to the user.[3]
Grindr has free or subscription-based versions, which offers different capabilities. The objective of the app is to garner relationships (sexual, romantic, friendships, or networking) based on locational distance. There are filtering options, where people can choose the app to show people within desired height ranges, weight ranges, age ranges, ethnicities, and other descriptors.[4]
History and Use
Grindr was created by tech entrepreneur Joel Simkai in Los Angeles, California. [5] The app started as an Apple app as of March 25th, 2009. There were online dating services before Grindr, such as gaydar[6], but they were web based platforms and not available as mobile apps.
In January 2011, Grindr won the IDate Award for Best Mobile Dating App. Later that year Grindr launched the app for Android devices. Furthermore, the updated version of the app allowed users to download a free version or premium version. The premium version of the app featured no banner ads, favorites, more visible profiles, and the capability of push notifications. The application continued to win awards the following years.[7]
Grindr began receiving criticism aroundAugust 2013 when an updated version of the app was pushed out. This update required users to provide a valid email address, which was criticized because of the decrease in anonymity. Grindr said this was to improve portability and reduce overall spam on the application.[8]
Grindr was sold at a 60 percent stake to a Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech. Founder and CEO, Simkhai, called the sale "a huge vote of confidence in our vision to connect gay men to even more of the world around them." [9] The remainder of the company to Kunlun Tech early 2018.[10]
In 2019 the United Stats Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) in the United States informed Kunlun that Chinese ownership of Grindr constitutes as a national security risk. [11] CFIUS' have been having concerns surrounding the safety of personal data apps handle, especially if it is in any way involving the United States military or intelligence personnel. However, neither company nor CFIUS representatives commented on the case, but Kunlun has been forced to sell its stake in Grindr by June 2020.[12]
References
{{{{{1}}}{{{2}}}|Pdf|Doc}}- ↑ Grindr About Page, https://www.grindr.com/about/
- ↑ " Grindr was the first big dating app for gay men. Now it’s falling out of favor. ", Jon Shadel, December 6th, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2018/12/06/grindr-was-first-big-dating-app-gay-men-now-its-falling-out-favor/
- ↑ " The best LGBTQ dating apps for Android and iOS", https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-lgbt-dating-apps/, Steven Winkelman, February 6, 2020
- ↑ "I have a specific type. How do I search using filters?", Grindr Help Center, https://help.grindr.com/hc/en-us/articles/224271948-I-have-a-specific-type-How-do-I-search-using-filters-
- ↑ " ", Israeli Founder of Grindr Talks About Growing Up Gay and Coming Out to His Family, Doron Halutz,Jun 28, 2016, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/the-israeli-loins-behind-grindr-1.5253351
- ↑ "Gay Dar", https://www.gaydar.net/
- ↑ Grindr Named ‘Best Mobile Dating Site’ at 2011 iDate Awards, Grindr Blog, January 24, 2011, https://web.archive.org/web/20120311215017/http:/blog.grindr.com/2011/01/grindr-named-%E2%80%98best-mobile-dating-site%E2%80%99-at-2011-idate-awards/
- ↑ "Overrun by spambots, gay dating app Grindr to end anonymous signups", Casey Newton, Jul 26, 2013, https://www.theverge.com/2013/7/26/4560338/hey-sexy-overrun-by-spambots-gay-hookup-app-grindr-to-end-anonymity
- ↑ "Chinese Gaming Firm Buys 60% Of Gay Dating App Grindr For $93M", Jon Russell, January 11, 2016, https://techcrunch.com/2016/01/11/chinese-gaming-firm-buys-60-of-gay-dating-app-grindr-for-93m/
- ↑ "Grindr planning stock market listing as Chinese owner gives approval for float, Caitlin Morrison, August 30, 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/grindr-stock-market-listing-gay-dating-app-kunlun-group-ipo-china-a8514476.html
- ↑ "Exclusive: Told U.S. security at risk, Chinese firm seeks to sell Grindr dating app", Carl O'Donnell, Liana B. Baker, Echo Wang, March 27, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-grindr-m-a-exclusive-idUSKCN1R809L
- ↑ "From ‘Kànzhe?’ to ‘Guardare?’ – Grindr’s New Owner May Be Italian", Staff, January 22, 2020, https://www.wehoville.com/2020/01/22/from-kanzhe-to-guardare-grindrs-new-owner-may-be-italian/
