Grindr CEO: Dating Apps Have Become Too Monetized for Young Users

In a recent interview with Fortune, Grindr CEO George Arison pushed back against the idea that Gen Z is simply unwilling to date, instead pointing to how modern dating apps have changed their monetization strategies. According to Arison, the problem isn’t that younger users are disinterested in romance – it’s that many apps now charge for features that used to be free, making the free versions nearly unusable.

Arison said, “We have no challenge with young people on the app, like it’s in no way a concern.” He argues that what is problematic is the evolution of apps toward paywalls: “The other products have become so impossible to use if you want to use them as a free product, because they’re just over monetized.” He added, “It’s not about, hey, I don’t see value in it. I don’t need it because I have alternative ways to get the same outcome.”

He contrasted Grindr’s approach: the free version remains “extremely robust,” especially compared with how some competitors limit functionality across gender lines. “Now, if you don’t pay, and you’re male, the apps are basically not usable. And even as a woman… you’re still very limited,” Arison said. “Grindr never did that … And so we don’t have a problem with Gen Z or late-stage millennials, because the free product is extremely robust. That’s the fundamental difference.”

Arison also pointed out that other platforms like Instagram provide an easy way to start conversations that can lead to flirting and dates. Many social platforms offer easy ways to connect with other users, and tend to not monetize that aspect since it’s the main function and goal of most social apps – making them a cheaper and easier alternative. Recent trends like “Throning” and “Dating Up” often even rely on the use of social media platforms to investigate the social influence and success of a potential match.

Those comments come amid broader reports that rising living costs and economic pressures are making traditional dating – like going out on paid dates – less feasible for many young people. Some analyses have suggested that Gen Z is turning more to low-cost or free ways to pursue relationships, including via social media direct messages or informal connections. Arison points out this behavior makes sense if paid features are perceived as optional or over-priced, even for prices that are cheaper than the industry average.