Tinder is testing Missed Connections and text-based Search feature

In Match Group's recent Q2 2026 earnings call, Tinder's CEO Spencer Rascoff announced the company's testing of two new features. The first, called Missed Connections, is set to launch in Canada and Australia first. The feature aims to bridge the gap between online and in-person connections by surfacing a weekly curated set of profiles in a dedicated tab based on users' encounters in the previous week.

This aligns with Tinder's strategy to bring singles together in person, following the expansion of the Events tab to nine additional cities in the U.S. and Europe. Rascoff also revealed that AI played a role in the development of Missed Connections, allowing for a faster creation process.

In addition to Missed Connections, Tinder is testing a text-based Search feature in Canada. Early results show that around 10 percent of testing users have utilized the search function, generating tens of thousands of searches in just a few weeks. The app has also updated its recommendation algorithm for straight women, which has led to an improvement in Sparks and Sparks Coverage metrics. The team behind these updates hopes to attract more women to the platform, potentially explaining the focus on this demographic.

These changes come at a time when Tinder's direct revenue and paid users are declining year over year, with declines of one percent and five percent, respectively. However, the gap is narrowing, with a recent press release from Match Group stating that direct revenue and paid user decline is down four percent year over year, the best result in 10 quarters. Despite the challenges, Match Group continues to focus on Tinder, as it brings in over half of the company's overall revenue, even though the portfolio includes 45 apps.