<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10899310" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jackd">Jack'd</keyword>, a queer dating app, came under fire on Monday for a notification that read "All Waves Matter."</li><li>This follows their removal of ethnicity search filters on their app in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.</li><li>The app later apologized and said, "That statement is not, nor has it ever been our stance on the matter."</li></ul><p>Queer dating app Jack'd came under fire on Monday night after the app sent users a notification reading "All Waves Matter," referencing the virtual "waves" users send to express interest in another user.</p><p>Being an app that prides itself on being the "most diverse community for gay, bi, trans, and queer people," as their website says, the notification's sentiment didn't sit right with many of its users.</p><p>While Jack'd is <a href="https://www.out.com/tech/2019/7/01/gay-hookup-app-must-pay-240000-leaving-private-photos-exposed">overwhelmingly used by people of color</a>, Out reported, the notification seemingly alluded to "<keyword id="3261073" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="all-lives-matter">All Lives Matter</keyword>," the rallying cry used by those who do not agree with the Black Lives Matter movement.</p><p>One person <a href="https://twitter.com/carminedavis/status/1369119457356943360?s=20">tweeted out a screenshot of the notification</a> and wrote, "Honey, what is THIS?" and another person <a href="https://twitter.com/tresporfavor/status/1369151111626592259?s=20">tweeted out a similar screenshot</a> and wrote, "Y'all please delete this trash of an app for posting this," </p><p>The app later apologized for the message. "Hey everyone, we saw the notification too...and we're working on getting to the bottom of how this happened. In the meantime, we are sincerely sorry," the company said in a tweet on Monday night. "That statement is not, nor has it ever been our stance on the matter."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Jack’d  (@jackd) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1369129670403371010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2021</a></blockquote><p>Many Jack'd users <a href="https://twitter.com/tresporfavor/status/1369151111626592259?s=20">posted</a> screenshots of the notification on <a href="https://twitter.com/carminedavis/status/1369119457356943360?s=20">Twitter</a> and expressed their distaste for the statement. "Brands need to stop trying to be so f----g cute when it comes to social issues," Jack'd user Kodi Seaton said in a tweet from his account <a href="https://twitter.com/grindrwhileblk/status/1369130428083372033?s=20">@Grindrwhileblk.</a> "Period."</p><p>Seaton, who lives in Washington, DC, told Insider in a Twitter message that when he tweeted his "valid criticism," the Jack'd Twitter account blocked him. "Meanwhile, they use Black bodies to sell and promote their product. You can't just value Black bodies. You also have to value our voices." Seaton also <a href="https://twitter.com/grindrwhileblk/status/1369138540802695169?s=20">tweeted on his @Grindrwhileblk account</a>, a promotional photo uploaded by Jack'd on Instagram, which featured two Black models.</p><p>The controversy comes as the gay community grapples with issues of racism that have frequently played out on dating apps.</p><p>Similar to <keyword id="800600" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Grindr">Grindr</keyword>, considered the most popular dating app for gay men, Jack'd is geolocation-based and users can scroll through a grid of over 100 nearby users. To help users find what they're looking for, dating apps like Grindr, <keyword id="9575655" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="scruff">Scruff</keyword>, and Jack'd each have filters for age, height, relationship status, and weight.</p><p>Some of the apps previously had filters for ethnicity. But in June 2020, <a href="https://www.out.com/tech/2020/6/03/scruff-and-jackd-remove-ethnicity-filters">in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement</a>, Jack'd and Scruff - both owned by <keyword id="10899311" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="perry-street-software">Perry Street Software</keyword> - announced they would remove their ethnicity filters, meaning users could no longer search for dates based on ethnicity. Scruff <a href="https://twitter.com/scruffapp/status/1267844556315332609/photo/2"> said in a statement on Twiter</a> at the time that they were committed to making "product improvements that address racism and unconscious bias on our apps."</p><p>Insider reached out to Jack'd for comment but did not immediately hear back.</p>

A gay dating app known for its diverse user base sent an 'All Waves Matter' notification, sparking questions about how it was approved

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The fraud <keyword id="11899412" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trial" source="Orion">trial</keyword> for <keyword id="11971768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="elizabeth-holmes" source="Orion">Elizabeth Holmes</keyword>, founder of blood-testing startup <keyword id="11971769" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="theranos" source="Orion">Theranos</keyword>, begins Tuesday.</li><li>Holmes and former COO Ramesh Balwani are accused of defrauding investors, doctors, and patients.</li><li>If she's convicted, Holmes faces up to 20 years in prison, $2.75 million in fines, and restitution.</li></ul><p>Blood-testing startup Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, were once the subjects of spectacular praise, hailed for their promise to revolutionize diagnostic testing in <keyword id="11897506" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="healthcare" source="Orion">healthcare</keyword>. Federal investigations soon followed as the company's practices raised suspicions. Now, Holmes is a defendant in a federal fraud trial.</p><p>Here's how she got here and what you can expect from the trial:</p><h2><strong>Who is Elizabeth Holmes?</strong></h2><p>When Elizabeth Holmes was 9 years old, she told relatives she wanted to be a billionaire when she grew up, according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?asin&amp;platform=browser&amp;postSource=bi%7C5ad77289817df61b008b47d8&amp;postTag=biauto-41489-20&amp;sc=false&amp;type=AMAZON-AFFILIATE-LINK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBad-Blood-Secrets-Silicon-Startup%2Fdp%2F152473165X%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fie%3DUTF8%26keywords%3Dbad%2520blood%2520john%2520carreyrou%26qid%3D1527254918%26sr%3D8-1%26tag%3Dbiauto-41489-20&amp;sessionid=1630328385449&amp;tag=bisafetynet2-2028385449&amp;tag=bisafetynet2-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored">Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup</a>, which documents Theranos' rise and fall. Around the same time, Holmes <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elizabeth-holmes-youngest-self-made-female-billionaire-revolutionize-health-care/">wrote in a letter</a>, "What I really want out of life is to discover something new, something that mankind didn't know was possible to do."</p><p>Holmes studied chemical engineering at Stanford before dropping out in 2003 to work on Theranos when she was 19. In 2014, she was dubbed the world's youngest self-made female billionaire, boasting an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion. Holmes was one of a handful of women leading a Silicon Valley unicorn and was hailed as a visionary. Taking after Steve Jobs, one of her heroes, Holmes often <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/09/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-exclusive">donned black turtlenecks and never took vacations</a>. She also drew attention for her uncharacteristically deep voice, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-founder-elizabeth-holmes-deep-voice-2019-3">which some former Theranos employees believe was faked</a>, perhaps to help Holmes better assimilate in the male-dominated startup world.</p><h2>What was Theranos?</h2><p>Theranos was a blood-testing startup that developed a test for a variety of health conditions with blood from a single finger prick, unlike traditional blood tests, which often require multiple vials of blood. Theranos' tests also promised to be cheaper, faster, and more accurate than traditional blood tests. Holmes said its technology, known as Edison machines, would create "a world in which no one has to say goodbye too soon." At its peak, Theranos was valued at $9 billion.</p><h2>Who is Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani? </h2><p>Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani was president and COO of Theranos. Before joining the company in 2009, Balwani <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-former-president-sunny-balwani-role-in-the-company-2018-5">was a software engineer at Microsoft and Lotus</a>.</p><p>Balwani and Holmes, who is roughly 20 years his junior, met in Beijing through Stanford's summer Mandarin program in the summer before Holmes went to college. Around the time Holmes dropped out of Stanford, they became romantically involved. They broke up in 2016, according to "Bad Blood," and Balwani left the company that year.</p><h2>What caused Theranos' downfall?</h2><p>In August 2015, FDA investigators visited Theranos, demanding to inspect its facilities. Around the same time, regulators from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found major inaccuracies in Theranos' tests and said the company gave dozens of patients questionable test results, according to <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/09/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-exclusive">Vanity Fair</a>. Two months later, reporter John Carreyrou published <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Ftheranos-has-struggled-with-blood-tests-1444881901">a bombshell investigation</a> in the Wall Street Journal that said only 15 of the 240 tests Theranos offered were performed on the company's Edison machines. The other tests, he wrote, were conducted using traditional blood testing machines.</p><p>The SEC <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-is-under-investigation-by-the-sec-and-the-us-attorneys-office-2016-4">also began investigating Theranos</a>, and in July 2016, Holmes was banned from working in the lab-testing industry for two years. Later that year, Theranos <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-announces-closure-of-clinical-labs-2016-10">shuttered its lab operations and wellness centers</a>. Holmes stepped down as CEO in June 2018 on the same day the Department of Justice charged her with wire fraud and conspiracy.</p><h2><strong>What are the charges and possible punishments?</strong></h2><p>Holmes and Balwani are each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud. If they're convicted, for each count, they'll face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and restitution to victims. </p><p>The US Department of Justice alleges that Holmes and Balwani took part in schemes to defraud investors, doctors, and patients by making deceptive claims about Theranos, its financial outlook, and its technology.</p><h2>How have Holmes and Balwani responded to the allegations?</h2><p>Holmes and Balwani have both pleaded not guilty to the charges.</p><p>After Carreyrou published his bombshell story, Holmes <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elizabeth-holmes-fires-back-at-her-critics-2015-10">responded</a> by saying, "This is what happens when you work to change things. First they think you're crazy, then they fight you, and then all of a sudden you change the world."</p><p><em><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-theranos-employees-speak-ahead-elizabeth-holmes-fraud-trial-2021-8">As Elizabeth Holmes heads to trial on fraud charges, former Theranos employees share new tales about her alleged paranoia, a 'tone deaf' Christmas gift and demands for utter devotion</a></em></p><h2><strong>Who were Theranos' investors and board members?</strong></h2><p>Theranos tapped several high-profile figures for investments and board seats.</p><p>Some of the company's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-invested-in-theranos-betsy-devos-walmart-heirs-2018-5">biggest investors</a> included News Corp Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch, former US secretary of education Betsy DeVos, and members of the Walton family, who are heirs to the Walmart empire. </p><p>On its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-former-board-members-henry-kissinger-george-shultz-james-mattis-2019-3">board</a>, the company featured names like former US Secretaries of State George Shultz and Henry Kissinger, former US Secretaries of Defense William Perry and James Mattis, and former Wells Fargo CEO Richard Kovacevich.</p><h2>What's next? </h2><p>Jury selection begins Tuesday, and opening statements are slated for September 8. The trial had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-lawsuit-delayed-october-coronavirus-lockdown-massive-fraud-2020-4">previously been delayed due to COVID-19</a>. In March, Holmes requested and received a delay because she was pregnant.</p><p>A separate trial for Balwani will start in January. </p>

Embattled Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is about to go on trial for fraud. Here's everything you need to know.

How China planted an FBI mole who was discovered only after gutting the CIA's vast spy network

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc2dafc7eece5216d0e4cef-2400/gettyimages-1178141612.jpg" border="0" alt="Mark Zuckerberg" data-mce-source="Drew Angerer/Getty Images" /><p class="source"><span>Drew Angerer/Getty Images</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Hello!</p><p>We published a bunch of great stories on Facebook, Tesla, WeWork, Walmart's Jet, SoftBank-backed startup Fair, and buzzy AI startup UiPath this week, so I want to jump right to it:</p><section><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anonymous-memo-alleging-racism-at-facebook-circulates-inside-company-2019-11">An anonymous memo alleging ongoing racism at Facebook is circulating inside the company</a></strong></p><p>Employees have been sharing and discussing an anonymously authored blog post that asserts racism at the company has gotten worse over the last year, and quotes what it says are 12 current and former employees about their experiences, Rob Price reported.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-replacing-salesforce-with-its-own-sales-software-2019-11">Tesla is starting to ditch Salesforce and replace it with its own software for company salespeople</a></strong></p><p>Tesla is starting to abandon <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/crm-stock">Salesforce</a> for a proprietary customer-relationship-management (CRM) system, three Tesla salespeople told Mark Matousek.</p></section><section><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/weworks-flatiron-school-lays-off-dozens-of-people-2019-11">WeWork's coding boot camp Flatiron School has laid off dozens of employees</a></strong></p></section><section><p>WeWork's coding boot camp, Flatiron School, laid off dozens of employees on Thursday as the coworking giant continued to slash costs after its failed initial public offering, Becky Peterson and Meghan Morris reported. Separately, Meghan and Julie Bort reported that insiders say <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wework-needs-a-big-expensive-it-upgrade-2019-11">WeWork's IT is a patchwork of cheap devices and Band-Aid fixes that will take millions to fix</a>. </p><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-jet-top-leaders-depart-future-2019-11">Top leaders are leaving Walmart's Jet, and some employees are growing concerned about the site's future</a></strong></p><p>Jet, the Walmart-owned e-commerce site, is facing a stream of departures from top leaders, fueling concerns among some employees about the company's future, according to Hayley Peterson.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-backed-fair-struggled-after-explosive-growth-say-insiders-2019-11">SoftBank-backed startup Fair burned through nearly $400 million in 10 months. Insiders reveal how Softbank stepped in and cleaned house in the wake of WeWork.</a></strong></p><p>A dozen current and former employees told Meghan Morris that Fair's unconstrained growth was its undoing. It hired people it didn't have jobs for and bought millions of dollars in inventory it lost track of as it burned through funding, they said.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uipath-cash-burn-revenue-targets-project-dawn-job-cuts-2019-11">Hot AI startup UiPath's job cuts were triggered after it burned cash faster than expected and missed its revenue target, according to an internal document</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/uipath">UiPath</a> was burning cash faster than expected and its revenue growth, although robust, was below its internal targets when the company launched a plan - dubbed Project Dawn - to slash hundreds of jobs and dramatically reduce costs, according to a presentation reviewed by Ben Pimentel. </p><hr /></section><h2><strong>WPP's shakeup</strong></h2><p>Mark Read, the CEO of WPP, the world's biggest ad holding company, is shaking things up as he looks to get the company back to growth. This week:</p><ul><li>Tim Castree, North American CEO of WPP's GroupM, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ceo-of-wpps-groupm-north-america-leaves-after-one-year-2019-11">stepped down from the world's largest ad buying network</a>. Sources with knowledge of the matter told Patrick Coffee that the company's need to grow in its crucial region, North America, played a role in Castree's exit.</li><li>Patrick also reported that WPP would continue its year-old restructuring spree this week by absorbing three agencies into the Wunderman Thompson organization that was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wpp-wunderman-thompson-will-absorb-several-additional-agencies-2019-11">created by the 2018 union of Wunderman and J. Walter Thompson</a>.</li></ul><p>The changes come as WPP looks to tackle headwinds caused by client budget cuts and a large-scale shift away from traditional advertising channels.</p><hr /><h2>In conversation</h2><ul><li>Dakin Campbell talked to <strong>Atte Lahtiranta, Goldman Sachs</strong>' new chief technology officer. He shared his strategy for attracting outside developers to work more closely with the bank, giving a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-incoming-cto-atte-lahtiranta-interview-2019-11">glimpse into the future of how Wall Street will work</a>.</li><li>Julie Bort talked to <strong>Amazon</strong> CTO <strong>Werner Vogels</strong>, who revealed he almost blew the company off when it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-cto-werner-vogels-aws-cloud-job-interview-2019-11">first reached out to him 15 years ago, believing it was "just a bookshelf."</a></li><li>Melia Russell talked to <strong style="color: #222222;">Sean Knapp</strong>, the founder and CEO of <strong style="color: #222222;">Ascend</strong>, a startup that came out of stealth mode in July. He shared <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/data-pipeline-startup-ascend-pitch-deck-2019-11">the pitch deck he used to raise $15 million in funding.</a></li><li>Jeremy Berke talked to <strong style="color: #222222;">Peter Barsoom</strong>, the CEO of <strong style="color: #222222;">1906</strong>, a Colorado-based cannabis-edibles brand. He walked through <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/1906-series-a-pitch-deck-18-million-marijuana-edibles-brand-2019-10">his plan to more than quadruple sales in a year</a>.</li><li>Shana Lebowitz talked to <strong style="color: #222222;">Dane Holmes</strong>, <strong style="color: #222222;">Goldman Sachs</strong>' outgoing talent chief. He shared the three questions he asks himself before taking any new role - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/career-advice-goldman-sachs-dane-holmes-how-to-choose-job-2019-10">including his next one as CEO of a HR tech startup</a>.</li><li>Rachel Premack talked to <strong style="color: #222222;">Ken Braunbach</strong>, VP of inbound transportation at <strong style="color: #222222;">Walmart</strong>, about everything from increasing sustainability <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-trucking-transportation-self-driving-rail-2019-11">to its trucking fleet that's more exclusive than Harvard</a>.</li><li>Lydia Ramsey talked to <strong style="color: #222222;">CVS Health</strong> CEO <strong style="color: #222222;">Larry Merlo</strong> about the company's HealthHubs, its bet that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-health-ceo-larry-merlo-on-how-healthhubs-are-working-2019-11">it can transform its pharmacies into places where you'd want to go to get healthcare.</a></li><li>Joe Williams talked to <strong style="color: #222222;">Leigh Radford</strong>, who heads <strong style="color: #222222;">Procter &amp; Gamble Ventures</strong>. She explained why she rents out a movie theater for her team <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-proctor-and-gamble-finds-hottest-startups-helps-them-scale-2019-11">every quarter to spark innovation at the $299 billion retail giant</a>.</li></ul><hr /><h2>Finance and Investing</h2><section><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/leaked-robinhood-memo-banning-traders-over-infinite-money-cheat-code-2019-11">We got a leaked copy of the memo Robinhood sent to barred users who exploited its now infamous 'infinite money' glitch</a></strong></p><p>Robinhood restricted the accounts of users exploiting an <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/robinhood-infinite-leverage-free-money-cheat-user-1-million-2019-11-1028661632" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"infinite leverage" glitch</a>, and a leaked letter sent to one terminated trader revealed how the company announced <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/robinhood-fixes-infinite-leverage-free-money-glitch-suspends-related-traders-2019-11-1028670689" target="_blank" rel="noopener">account terminations</a>.</p></section><section><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fintech-george-soros-pitch-deck-raise-15-million-2019-10">Here's the pitch deck that fintech dv01 used to nab $15 million from the likes of George Soros and Pivot Investment Partners. The startup's founder called it the easiest round he's ever raised.</a></strong></p><p>Fintechs have had a relatively easy time raising money thanks to a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vcs-investing-challenger-banks-monzo-chime-varo-revolut-n26-2019-8">slew of eager investors</a> with cash to spend. But the most recent round raised by Perry Rahbar for his fintech dv01 might take the cake. </p><section><hr /></section></section><h2>Tech, Media, Telecoms</h2><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/5-amazon-advertising-execs-who-could-replace-seth-dallaire-2019-11">Amazon has a big leadership hole to fill with the departure of advertising exec Seth Dallaire. Here are five insiders that ad execs say are his likely successor.</a></strong></p><p>When Dallaire <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/seth-dallaire-leaves-amazon-advertising-for-instacart-to-be-cro-2019-9">recently left Amazon</a> to be CRO of Instacart, Amazon lost a big name behind its growing but still nascent advertising business.</p><section><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/outbrain-web-content-recommendations-lost-lead-to-taboola-2019-11">How Outbrain established 'around the web' content recommendations, only to lose its lead to Taboola and end up getting eaten by its rival</a></strong></p><p>In October, the two dominant content recommendation companies Outbrain and Taboola announced plans to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taboola-and-outbrain-merging-to-take-on-facebook-and-google-2019-10">merge to create a $2 billion company</a>. </p><hr /></section><h2>Healthcare, Retail, Transportation</h2><section><section><section><section><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/digital-health-investments-by-google-microsoft-tencent-samsung-2019-10">Companies like Google and Microsoft are making big investments in startups looking to disrupt healthcare. Here's where 5 top tech giants are placing their bets.</a></strong></p><p>Tech giants like Google's parent company Alphabet and Microsoft have taken their time figuring out how to approach the massive $3.5 trillion US healthcare industry. </p><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-7-best-funded-healthcare-remote-monitoring-companies-2019-10">Meet the 7 remote-monitoring startups that are raising millions to provide a new way of caring for aging Americans at home</a></strong></p><p>The US population is aging rapidly and startups are looking to create new ways of helping to care for the elderly.</p></section></section></section></section><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=amazon&amp;itm_campaign=40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019-3"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5d5ecdddad2b472c89086704" alt="Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: 40 Big Tech Predictions for 2019 by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-factory-where-30-million-plastic-poppies-every-year-armistice-wwi-wwii-2018-11">Inside the factory where army veterans make 7 million poppies every year</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/b8CiEbYU-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

An anonymous memo at Facebook, a shakeup at WPP, and Robinhood's 'infinite money' glitch

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Meeting up with new romantic prospects is discouraged under current social distancing guidelines. </li><li>To adjust to the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic and maintain customers, dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, <keyword id="800600" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Grindr">Grindr</keyword>, and Scruff have encouraged long-distance romance. </li><li>On Facebook, singles are organizing groups to set up virtual dates.</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, dating apps and platforms faced a conundrum: after years of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dating-app-usage-growth-slowing-tinder-match-bumble-analysts-say-2019-6">growth</a>, they had to navigate a world where casual hookups could be more detrimental to public <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> than usual. In a recent interview with <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/anthony-fauci-on-new-rules-of-living-with-coronavirus">Vanity Fair</a>, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that when it comes to singles meeting up through dating apps, it's up to the individual to figure out whether or not they were "willing to take a risk" of contracting coronavirus. Other <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/4/8/21210131/coronavirus-nudes-quarantine-sex-instagram">experts</a> have been much clearer about the dangers of singles meeting up, and New York City's guidelines even encourage "video dates, sexting or chat rooms" over other forms of intimacy.</p><p>During a time where Americans are being discouraged to meet up in person, dating apps, social media users, and matchmakers are readjusting to the reality of quarantine by embracing video chat and <keyword id="4462632" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="long-distance">long distance</keyword> dating — a move that could be a preview of our more cautious post-quarantine lives.</p><h2>Facebook Groups For Singles Looking To Date Globally Have Sprung Up</h2><p>On Facebook, two Jewish dating oriented groups, CoronaCrush and MeetJew University Dating, have sprung up since the beginning of global quarantining. Both groups have garnered a significant amount of interest: CoronaCrush has 11,793 members and MeetJew University Dating has 38,884 members, respectively. </p><p>On CoronaCrush, users write detailed, often humorous, posts vouching for the romantic viability of a friend. In the post's comments, users tag potential matches and then it's up to both parties to message one another and schedule a video date. </p><p>On the other hand, MeetJew University, which is exclusively for Jewish singles between the ages of 18 and 26, is a bit more sophisticated. The group was co-started by Daniel Ebrahmi and Aaron Raimi. To find a potential prospect, group members fill out a survey and then get matched through an algorithm.  "We just want Jews to have a safe place to meet one another and possibly help create more Jewish families," Ebrahami told Insider. He confirmed that there has been long distance dating in the group  — a friend based in California was now dating someone quarantined in New York. </p><p>"People can get to know each other before being in physical contact which promotes conversations so people can understand if someone is right for them," Ebrahami said. </p><p>Zoom dates could also alleviate anxiety. One CoronaCrush member, who chose to remain anonymous, said that with video chatting, unlike in person dating, there's an easy escape. "When you take a girl out on a date, oftentimes in the first few minutes you can feel that the chemistry is off and you're stuck for the next few hours on a date that you don't want to be on," he said. </p><p>Florentino*, a CoronaCrush member based in Tel Aviv, Israel, has been frequently video-chatting with Fermina* — a woman from Haifa he met in the group. After they were the only two people to show up to an online book club meeting, they hit it off and started talking privately.  Florentino told Insider that he and Fermina have a "a great intellectual connection" and that they "seem to find each other attractive so it's obviously not just platonic." </p><p>Bracha Rapaport, one of the six founders of CoronaCrush, said that her group is offering some respite during trying times. "It's very light-hearted, [and] gives people a reminder that this thing shall pass and there will be a life after," she wrote in an email.  Rapaport noted that some people in the group have expressed interest in "relocating or finding love overseas." She thinks that though the future is uncertain, the group can still be a platform for singles after quarantine is lifted. </p><h2>To keep their users hooked while abiding by social distancing guidelines,  a myriad of dating apps have encouraged long distance connections.</h2><p><div type="image" title="online dating" height="1363" width="2726" msid="75506700" hostid="261"></div></p><p>While users have been left to their own devices on Facebook, dating apps have stepped in to try to help their users create new bonds in unusual circumstances. </p><p>Tinder took a proactive stance from the start of the crisis in the United States. On March 2nd, the company encouraged its users to start abiding by social distancing guidelines. Later that month, on March 27th, the company made Tinder Passport free for all its users. The feature lets people match and chat with users across the globe. Before, it was only available for people who pay through Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold. </p><p>"Tinder is hoping that the app itself and features like Passport can help fill the void of human interaction which is very much in need right now. They believe they can do something to stop the spread of the second epidemic: a loneliness epidemic," a representative told Insider.</p><p>Tinder declined to offer any data about the popularity of the feature but said that it will no longer be free after May 4th. </p><p>Meanwhile, Bumble is allowing its users to match and chat with anyone inside the US. According to a representative, there was an "84% increase in voice calls and video chats during the week ending March 27" compared to two weeks earlier. Bumble also says it's seeing 25% of chats "turning into something more meaningful," with more messages exchanged.</p><p>Not all apps are following suit. Hinge, for instance, has embraced video chatting but hasn't allowed users to go outside of their geographic radius. "Everything we do is focused on authentic compatibility between users. As a part of this, users put their location pin where they live, and it stays there regardless of the phone's exact location," a Hinge representative stated.</p><h2>LGBTQ Dating Apps Are Trying To Create Communal Platforms.</h2><p><div type="image" title="grindr" height="1636" width="3271" msid="75506703" hostid="261"></div></p><p>LGBTQ dating apps like Grindr and Scruff have long had a reputation for promoting hookup <keyword id="24504" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="culture">culture</keyword>. With the reality of quarantine, however, these apps have tried to become communal platforms. Part of this transition has involved long distance chatting. </p><p>A Grindr spokesperson gave a statement to Insider about how the app is providing its users with Covid-19-related information and "the ability to connect with others in the LGBTQ community – even if it's only online as we see many people doing through our chat or video functionality. This life-affirming connection is especially important during this time of physical and social isolation."</p><p>The app has also promoted Circles, a group chat feature that lets up to 20 users in the same country connect around a specific topic. On <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/grindr/comments/fz6373/what_is_the_circles_feature/">Reddit</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%22grindr%20circles%22&amp;src=typed_query&amp;f=livep;f=live">Twitter</a>, some users have complained about Circles having bugs and malfunctions. One Grindr user, who chose to stay anonymous, told Insider that he had seen a "memes" themed Circle devolve into people exchanging nudes. "It definitely didn't work out as planned. People weren't sticking to the topics," he stated.</p><p>Scruff, an LGBTQ dating app, has transitioned to turning their service into a communal platform and has made some features like sharing private albums globally available for everyone, not just paying customers. </p><p>Todd Sowers, the COO of Perry Street Software, the developer of Scruff, told Insider that the app's users have been chatting more, saying, "Our users are really leaning into the community aspect of Scruff right now. Not the hookup aspect of it as much because obviously that's not safe and we have encouraged our customers to stay online."<strong> </strong></p><p>In addition, Scruff has expanded its geographic grid to show 1,000 people and is planning on continuing their livestream quiz show, which lets users chat with other people tuning in, remotely. </p><p>"I think this experience has definitely normalized in the public eye the notion of connecting socially over apps. If there was any remaining stigma to using apps to find social [or] emotional connection, I think that stigma has now fallen during Covid-19 because we're all distanced now and apps and our internet is the social lifeline," Eric Silverberg, the Founder and CEO of Scruff, stated. </p><p>Though Scruff declined to share data about long distance chatting due to privacy concerns, they told Insider that there has been no decline in app usage since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><h2>Matchmakers are mixed on long-distance dating in quarantine. </h2><p><div type="image" title="sex health sexual genitals female male anatomy peach crotch orgasm pleasure same sex reproduction penis testicles anal vagina vibrator toy handcuffs whip bdsm kink feather cox 107" height="1250" width="2500" msid="75506707" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Even if Facebook groups and dating apps are popular, when it comes to meeting their soulmate, some people prefer to have a more tailored, boutique experience. Insider reached out to a few professional matchmakers for insight on how their industry has adjusted to quarantine and embraced online long distance dating.</p><p><a href="https://www.carmeliaray.com/">Carmelia Ray,</a> a relationship expert and matchmaker, has transitioned to helping her clients succeed at virtual dating and has organized online speed-dating, happy hours, and meetups for singles located around the globe. According to Ray, 40% of her clients are now "more open" to finding a match outside of their area. </p><p>"Like any relationship, it's really important that you're clear on your boundaries and you're clear on your expectations. Some people are long distance dating, knowing that this is temporary or they're looking at it as not necessarily a serious relationship. But for those who are thinking of serious relationships, they should have all the regular communication and conversation that they would with a local partner," she offered as advice.</p><p>Ray said that for virtual dates, people should try to bring the care and respect they would to an actual in-person meetup by dressing nicely, setting up an ambiance, and not succumbing to distractions while chatting with their prospect.</p><p>Silicon Valley matchmaker <a href="https://www.linxdating.com/">Amy Andersen</a> told Insider that during quarantine, more clients are digitally dating between the Bay Area and Los Angeles. "I keep telling my clients to keep exploring the virtual connections and when restrictions are lifted, to be able to imagine how exciting it will be to finally see their love interest in the flesh, in person," Andersen said. </p><p><a href="https://joshuapompey.com/">Joshua Pompey</a>, a dating expert, was a bit cautious about long distance dating and urged people to use "common sense, avoid any suspicious behavior," and avoid anyone who is "asking for money, or private and personal information that goes above and beyond just a phone number or basic info." </p><h2>Singles Weighed In On The Elusive Benefits of Long Distance Dating</h2><p>Some singles don't need dating apps, Facebook groups, or the guidance of experts to foster a connection with a stranger online.  During quarantine, Michael*, a Los Angeles based single, has stricken up a cyber romance with Onyx*, a Twitter follower who resides in New York City. They have bonded through watching anime shows together using Netflix's House Party Chrome extension and have gone on frequent FaceTime dates. Though there's a notable geographic difference, they have tentative plans to meet in the future. </p><p>"Everything is really uncertain right now, but they've never been to Los Angeles before and really want to come visit when all of this is over. I'm equally as eager to come to see them when it's safe," Michael wrote in an email to Insider. </p><p>But what if the appeal of online long distance dating is that there's no serious pressure to ever <em>actually</em> meet? </p><p>Based in Boston, John started chatting with Tommy* on Tinder when he was visiting from Philadelphia before quarantine. After talking for a month, they had a FaceTime date and then rapidly fell into a whirlwind cyber romance. </p><p>"We've already discussed our worst qualities, our most embarrassing and painful memories and our worst breakups. We also FaceTime while cooking dinner," John said.  However, he remarked that "at least 50% of the appeal and lure" was the notion that they may never physically be together. Despite talking about seeing one another after lockdown was lifted, John was nervous — "I can't decide how I feel. I've put on about 10 pounds during quarantine which I don't know how to break to him." </p><p>John's relationship also serves as a cautionary tale: he recently broke things off with his quarantine beau because he asked to shelter in place together, making him uncomfortable about how quickly things were escalating.    </p><p>During this unprecedented crisis, there have been some bold <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/19/coronavirus-effect-economy-life-society-analysis-covid-135579">predictions</a> regarding what the world after quarantine will look like. In regards to dating, Ray believes that it will become a more virtually integrated experience — text-flirting skills will be an attractive commodity and video chatting might turn into a "precursor or the requirement before somebody actually meets in person." Bumble said that after quarantine, they will continue to encourage people to use their voice and video chat features for the sake of "safety and compatibility."  </p><p>As Andersen noted, the promise of eventually meeting up in person is an alluring incentive to keep on chatting. But geographic distance can often breed uncertainty. At the very least, it's good material for <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@laviedepaloma/video/6817219229117451526?u_code=0&amp;preview_pb=0&amp;language=en&amp;_d=dbf2jk2fei296a&amp;timestamp=1588301442&amp;utm_campaign=client_share&amp;app=musically&amp;utm_medium=ios&amp;tt_from=sms&amp;utm_source=sms&amp;source=h5_mm=sms&amp;utm_source=sms&amp;source=h5_m">TikTok</a> videos.</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@laviedepaloma/video/6817219229117451526" data-video-id="6817219229117451526" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@laviedepaloma" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@laviedepaloma">@laviedepaloma</a> <p>Damn !!!! <a title="greenscreen" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/greenscreen">##greenscreen</a> <a title="tinder" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tinder">##tinder</a> <a title="daying" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/daying">##daying</a> <a title="datingproblems" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/datingproblems">##datingproblems</a> <a title="datingstorytime" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/datingstorytime">##datingstorytime</a> <a title="losangeles" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/losangeles">##Losangeles</a> <a title="paris" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/paris">##paris</a> <a title="fyp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp">##fyp</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ Felix Abdons audio ho3 - felix4felix" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Felix-Abdons-audio-ho3-6798918768794831621">♬ Felix Abdons audio ho3 - felix4felix</a> </section> </blockquote> <p>*Interviewee chose to use pseudonyms for the article. </p>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.insider.com/online-dating-quarantine-long-distance-app-tinder-grindr-scruff-facebook-2020-5">Insider</a>

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