The Meet Group Releases Blind Date to MeetMe, Skout, and Tagged, and Match Group’s Plenty of Fish

New Feature Encourages Authentic and Socially Safe Connections

As millions of people are continuing to flock to online communities and dating apps, The Meet Group hopes to encourage authentic and socially safe connections through its latest feature release, Blind Date. The new addition to the NextDate dating game gives members the opportunity to meet and connect with a streaming host through a mini virtual date that is based on personality, not looks. Blind Date was recently released to The Meet Group’s MeetMe, Skout, and Tagged dating apps, as well as Match Group’s Plenty of Fish.

The new mode, which can be toggled on and off in the NextDate game settings, is a modern take on a traditional “blind date,” giving the streaming host the opportunity to hear the contestant, not see them. As the date progresses, the contestant’s video becomes less blurred, and is only revealed when time runs out, or the streaming host chooses to “date” the contestant. According to a recent survey conducted by Plenty of Fish, 65% of its United States-based members are more open to blind dates than ever before, due in part to social distancing guidelines and self isolation orders implemented across the country. These same online daters believe that chemistry and a strong connection is more important than attractiveness in long-term relationships, with 75% believing that love is blind.

“Based on a recent survey conducted by MeetMe, we found that 91% of members wish that dating was more focused on personality, and 77% would chat with someone before seeing what they look like. We are seeing that our members value personality over attractiveness, and with Blind Date, they are given the opportunity to chat first and really gain a sense of who they are connecting with. Personality can tell you more about someone’s genuity, allowing for more authentic connections and relationships,” said Geoff Cook, CEO of The Meet Group.

Since the start of the pandemic, an average of more than 100,000 NextDate games have been played every day on The Meet Group’s dating apps. The new feature is expected to drive more members to the dating game as the number of people seeking authentic connection over physical attractiveness continues to increase, particularly among millennials.