Well, it’s finally happening: Tinder is going public. IAC/Interactive announced today that it will be making The Match Group, which includes Tinder, OkCupid, and Match.com among others, public by the end of the year for anyone who wants to invest in the sites that are responsible for keeping their love life and sex life alive and well. Although IAC will only be releasing 20 percent of its stock for outside purchasers, considering just how popular these apps and sites are, if you have any extra cash, it might be a wise investment.
IAC/Interactive, a $6 billion media conglomerate, has had its hands in the online dating scene since 1999, you know, back when the majority of online daters were likely to be serial killers. It was that year that they purchased Match.com, and since then they’ve managed to purchase all the major sites out there. In addition to Match, Tinder, and OkCupid, IAC also owns Chemistry.com, OurTime, HowAboutWe, and Meetic. Basically, no matter what site or app you choose, you’re lining the pockets of the same people with cold hard cash.
But this isn't the first time the online dating world has tried to go public. Zoosk tried to make a go of it, but backed out earlier this year, and AshleyMadison, the website that caters to people looking to cheat on their partner, also threw in the towel on their IPO in 2011. But the thinking is with Tinder in their back pocket, IAC can’t lose, because everyone and their mother loves Tinder. Who doesn’t enjoy a Friday night in, swiping away while downing a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck?
Because Tinder has revolutionized how people meet each other, and dating apps have never been so fun, here at seven things that you didn’t know about Tinder.
1. Tinder Gets 16,000 Swipes Every Second
Yes! Every second of every day Tinder gets 16,000 swipes. If we take that amount and times it by 60 seconds in every minute, that comes out to 960,000 swipes every minute. That's a lot.
2. Tinder Has Matched 8 Billion People So Far
In the two and half years since Tinder first made its debut, the app has matched eight billion people. Of course this doesn’t mean that eight billion people found themselves in a relationship or even got laid, but at least they were matched with someone so they could quit feeling like they’ll be alone forever.
3. Tinder Has Yet To Blow The Competition Out Of The Water
While it seems like everyone is on Tinder, especially when you look at the amount of swipes, research has found that on a monthly basis only one percent of those who use the Internet are actually using Tinder. In comparison, 31 percent visit more traditional online dating sites every month.
4. Tinder Is Available Almost Everywhere
As of this month, Tinder is now available in 159 countries. Considering there are 196 countries in the world, Tinder appears to be shooting for world domination.
5. The Average User Spends Only 11 Minutes On Tinder A Day
Despite how much fun it is and all those swipes that are being tallied up, the company has found that the average user only spends 11 minutes a day on Tinder. Although I’m sure there are those who get sucked into it for hours on end, because boredom is a tender trap.
6. The Majority Of Tinder’s Users Are Men
According to new research by GlobalWebIndex, 62 percent of Tinder’s users are men, the majority of users, at 85 percent, are between the ages of 18 and 34, and 30 percent of its users are already married.
7. Most Tinder Users Have Memberships At Other Sites
Not only do 25 percent of Tinder users actually pay for memberships to other dating sites, but 70 percent of their users belong to other dating sites. So, yes, you probably did see that hot guy in that exact same shirt and pose on another site, too. No, you’re not losing your mind after all.
Images: Kaboompics /Pixelbay; Giphy(7)
