Online dating giants and start-ups are betting on a different kind of human connection in the search for revenue growth: friendship.

Bumble, Muzz and Match Group are pushing their friend-finding and community-building products as an alternative model for digital matchmaking, aimed at attracting younger users that have been hit by so-called dating app fatigue.

Bumble, which owns the eponymous female-focused dating app as well as Badoo and Fruitz, said it was bullish about the “untapped potential” of “the friendship space”.

“The opportunity there is quite limitless for us,” said chief executive Lidiane Jones at an investor event this month.

In May, the group acquired community-building product Geneva, which connects people based on shared interests, building on the launch of its friend-finding app BFF last year.

The push into friendship apps comes as some of the biggest online dating players have struggled with a post-pandemic slowdown in growth. Bumble shed a quarter of its market value after slashing its revenue outlook in August.

Jones said Bumble would focus this autumn on “scaling the growth of Geneva and BFF” in order to “over time diversify our business monetisation model”.

Match’s newest app Yuzu, launched in February, is also its first product to explicitly offer a social-only mode as well as a dating function.

The app, which is designed exclusively for the Asian community, allows users to toggle between “social”, “dating”, or “social and dating” modes — a feature the $9.6bn company has suggested it may expand to its wider portfolio of more than 40 dating brands.

“This is a testing ground for us,” Match’s chief financial officer Gary Swidler said at an investor conference this month. “You can draw the line, I think, from things we’re testing in emerging brands, including Yuzu, and what we might be thinking down the road at Tinder.”

Smaller rivals have also moved into the friendship market this year. The decade-old Muslim ‘marriage app’ Muzz, which has 1.5mn monthly active users according to Sensor Tower, began rolling out Muzz Social, a friend-finding and social networking feature, in February.

New users of Muzz Social are automatically added to groups according to their location, and can also join networks based on hobbies or interests. “Automatically you’ve got a bunch of communities you could reach out to,” said founder and chief executive Shahzad Younas.

Gay dating app Grindr, whose user numbers have continued to climb amid slowdowns at both Bumble and Tinder, has also explored adding social features, both for friendship and professional networking, in a bid to broaden its user base.

Start-ups are also seeking to tap into the so-called “loneliness economy” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

French start-up Timeleft, which algorithmically matches groups of six people to go for a meal together, expanded into the US and UK this year and now operates in over 200 cities.

Events and social connections company Pie secured $11.5mn in funding in September for an app designed to help users meet locals in real life as part of what founder Andy Dunn called “a mission to defeat social isolation”.

But analysts are sceptical that a pivot to friendship will significantly boost revenue growth for existing online dating companies.

Tinder, Hinge, Grindr and Bumble all rely on “freemium” subscription models for the bulk of their revenues, but analysts warn that platforms may struggle to find users willing to pay for friendship — especially when mainstream social networks, like Facebook, are free.

“It’s simple. People are more willing to pay for romance than for friends,” said Ygal Arounian, an analyst at Citi.

Both Bumble and Muzz said they were considering paid partnerships and advertising to monetise their friendship products, in addition to subscriptions.

But building a successful advertising business could require a major push to recruit new users and promote daily engagement with the products. Bumble’s BFF has just 735,000 monthly active users, according to Sensor Tower, while its flagship dating product has more than 20mn. 

Connecting payment with real-life meetups is another option. Users of Timeleft, for example, pay a fee or take out a membership, to reserve a space at one of the company’s weekly dinners. Timeleft keeps the entire fee, while users pay for their own meals at partner restaurants.

But even if they do not make money themselves, Bumble and Muzz are betting that friendship products will help keep users engaged with their brands even when they are not actively seeking a partner, as well as offering a route to their more profitable dating businesses.

Timeleft chief executive Maxime Barbier said friendship products could be the future of online matchmaking. “Dating as it is — swiping, texting and one-on-one first dates — is dying. People are so tired of it and they see us as an alternative.”

BREWERY hops are finally getting hip.

Ale – usually associated with bushy-bearded blokes – is enjoying a trendy renaissance, with one in three women also enjoying a regular sup.

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If you’re ale-curious but wary of the dark and sinister-looking “real” stuff, or simply don’t know where to start with this acquired taste tipple, you can give it a go with lighter – and cheaper – versions from the supermarkets before hitting the pub for the real deal.

Here, Helena Nicklin, offers her selection of top newbie at-home ales.

Harbour Session IPA, Lidl

£1.85, 440ml, 4% ABV

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AN exclusive Lidl brew, a can of Harbour Session, which is decked out in Creme Egg colours, feels like an IPA “lite” so it’s perhaps not a bad one to begin with if you’re new to this category.

IPA purists might well say it’s a bit too thin rather than hoppy – but they can continue propping up the bar with their pint of cask while you enjoy this at home as it’s cheap and very easy to glug.

Looks fun with its bright colours so would make a great party ale. Worth a try even if it is not what you end up sipping in the pub.

2/5

£2, 500ml, 4.6% ABV

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OAKHAM was the first UK brewery to produce a beer with 100% citra hops.

These are a fairly new type used for their fruity, citrus and floral aromatics and flavours, and known for adding vibrancy to ales.

If you can get past the quirky label then glugging this very light gold will offer you bright tropical fruit and candied lemon peel flavours.

It’s hip and hoppy with lots going on so worth giving it a go.

My top tip for anyone switching tipples from a glass of white vino is that if you’re into sauvignon blanc, you’ll love this.

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£2,25, 500ml, 5% ABV

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BLONDE ale is even lighter than amber and the clue is in the name as it generally has a gorgeous, light gold hue.

Such styles tend to be crisp and pretty easy-drinking with light, biscuity notes.

If you’ve never had ale before, something like this would be a great place to start.

This organic tipple is made with real honey, malt and hops.

It has a touch of baked apple fruitiness and a ­subtle nectar note without being sweet or too intense.

Delicious cracked open on its own any time, and lovely paired with salty crisps.

3/5

Black Sheep Ale, Tesco

£2, 500ml, 4.4% ABV

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WHILE you currently can’t get real dark and savoury cask ale to glug at home – unless you have your own pub, that is – an amber ale like this, with its less hoppy, more caramel-toffee notes, is a great place to start to get a feel for the darker stuff.

Whether you are a newbie to this type of drink or just want to try some different options in the ­comfort of your own home then this classic Yorkshire tipple is rich, balanced and smooth, with a Malteser-like, malty sweetness.

It’s awesome with a meaty pie. Trendy bottle too.

5/5

Adnams Ghost Ship Ale, Asda

£2, 500ml, 4.5% ABV

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IF it’s the vibrant, citrusy notes you love in a pale ale then spooky ­sipper Ghost Ship, with its powerful twist of lemon and lime, should be right up your street.

Made with a mix of British and American barley and rye, it’s a little hoppy and has elderflower hints along with biscuity notes.

Apparently inspired by smugglers and our haunted coastlines, it’s a great thirst-slayer – and with its spectral label it would definitely be a fabulous choice if you’re getting the beers in for Halloween.

4/5

BrewDog Punk IPA, Sainsbury’s £5.25 (Nectar),

330ml x 4, 5.4% ABV

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IF you’ve tried pale ale before and enjoyed its light, bright hoppiness but want a bit more of that flavour, then India pale ale is the way to go.

Brewdog’s version is a go-to for many, and for a good reason – it gets the balance just right between citrus and hops, and has a moreish earthy note on the finish.

An easy-to-drink classic that would be a great intro to IPAs.

It is well-priced – more so at the moment as it is on offer – so if it isn’t for you then you won’t break the bank. Drink it chilled with snacks.

3/5

Saltaire Blonde Ale, Morrisons

£2.25, 500ml, 4% ABV

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SOME ingredients really do have the best names and Saltaire Ale says it is made with Bohemian saaz hops, which feels fitting given its slightly quirky profile.

Light, refreshing and soft, there’s a gentle, spicy maltiness to this well-priced blonde, which hails from Yorkshire.

A lower ABV makes it an easy-drinking choice – there’s lots of flavour here without being heavy.

It’s definitely a top at-home brew to try if you are just starting out on your ale journey.

4/5

William Bros Birds & Bees, Aldi

£1.65, 500ml, 4.3% ABV

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NOT yet sure about the bitter hops of pale ales and IPAs?

Then a golden ale might be the best go-to for you.

This affordable offering gives you a lot of bang for your buck – and its slightly lower ABV than some other options might be appealing for certain sippers, too.

More about ripe, tropical fruit flavours and delicate florals, golden ales like this one have a real ­summer party vibe.

This is a great one for spreading a ­little sunshine into a soggy autumn day. Or sipping ­outside in the summer.

3/5

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The UK must mobilise £1.6tn of funding by 2040 to meet the nation’s public infrastructure needs, according to new research that underscores the vast investment demands confronting Sir Keir Starmer’s government. 

The research from consultancy EY comes as chancellor Rachel Reeves contemplates loosening her fiscal rules to allow the Labour government to increase borrowing to pay for higher levels of public investment.

On Friday, Lord Gus O’Donnell, formerly the UK’s most senior civil servant, added to mounting calls that the chancellor should ditch her “absurd” debt rule as part of fiscal reforms that bolster capital spending.

The prospect of higher borrowing has put gilt investors on edge this week as they await clearer signals from Labour about its plans to plough more public money into the nation’s ailing infrastructure.

Reeves on Monday told the Labour party’s annual conference she would end the “low investment that feeds decline” as she hinted that a rethink of the UK’s fiscal framework was under way.

Starmer, the prime minister, later declared in a visit to New York for the UN General Assembly this week that he had “always thought that we should borrow to invest”. He added that government would be a “catalyst” for private spending.

The EY report, led by former Treasury adviser Mats Persson, estimated a £1.6tn in required spending between now and 2040 in areas including energy, transport, and defence.

Far greater private sector involvement would be required alongside public spending if the needs were to be met, said Persson, now an EY partner.

“There is an absolute need as well as significant potential for more private investment into UK infrastructure assets and capital programmes that have traditionally been funded by taxpayers,” said Persson.

The consultancy drew its estimates from the government’s National Infrastructure and Construction pipeline of planned and projected infrastructure programmes, and departmental capital projects that have not been allocated money.

The list of unfunded projects include rail networks, upcoming phases of the Tempest air defence programme, energy projects as well as hospitals and schools. The figure excludes projects already under way such as the HS2 high speed rail line and those the NIC has said are being funded by the private sector.

Existing fiscal scenarios suggested that only £900bn of the programmes would be covered by public spending, EY said, leaving a £700bn shortfall.

Given the UK’s poor record of delivering infrastructure projects on budget, the true bill could be a further £1tn higher, EY warned.

The UK has sat at the bottom of a G7 league table of total investment for most of the past three decades, damaging the quality of infrastructure including roads and hospitals.

Reeves also faces intense pressure to find extra funding for day-to-day expenditure on public services ranging from education to the courts, setting up painful decisions in the October 30 budget.

Treasury officials are working on an overhaul to the UK’s fiscal rules as they seek to balance demands for spending on public services and infrastructure with warnings from the UK’s fiscal watchdog that Britain’s debt levels are on an “unsustainable” upward path.

In a column for the Financial Times, former cabinet secretary O’Donnell argued that the Treasury should incorporate measures of public debt that better reflected assets as well as liabilities, a move that would enable greater capital spending.

He also criticised the UK’s fiscal rule — adopted by Reeves from the previous Conservative government — that requires public debt to be falling year on year in five years’ time.

“We should ditch the last government’s absurd debt rule, which requires debt to be falling between years four and five, but says nothing about other years,” he said.

He argued that the government should take steps to reassure investors that the UK’s public finances were on a sustainable path to “allow space for higher, worthwhile investments while retaining market credibility”.

O’Donnell said the government should seek to balance day-to-day spending against taxes in three years, rather than five, and require the independent Office for Budget Responsibility to provide an independent assessment of debt sustainability.

Reeves is said by colleagues to be determined to stick to Labour’s manifesto commitment to a fiscal rule under which debt must fall as a share of GDP in the fifth year of the forecast. Her focus is instead on how that debt is measured, they said.

A Treasury spokesperson said Reeves’s October 30 Budget — the first from a Labour government since 2010 — would be built on “the rock of economic stability, including robust fiscal rules that were set out in the manifesto.”

CYPRUS is a popular holiday destination with Brits looking for an affordable winter sun break.

However, the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has raised concerns due to its proximity to the island.

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Is it safe to travel to Cyprus right now?

The UK Foreign Office has not issued any warnings against traveling to Cyprus. 

However, it has warned that protests can occur quickly and suddenly on the island.

It also does not acknowledge the “the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” and has noted that it may be difficult for the UK to offer consular support in the region.

What is currently happening in Cyprus?

Tensions between Lebanon and Israel were intensified when Hezbollah voiced anger at Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks.

The situation worsened on September 17 and 18, 2024, after thousands of pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies belonging to members of Hezbollah simultaneously exploded. 

Several sources have suggested this attack was perpetrated by Israel.

Since then, Keir Starmer has said UK nationals in Lebanon need to be evacuated to Cyprus in case of further conflict.

Cyprus is home to two UK sovereign base areas named Akrotiri and Dhekelia. 

The island is 293 miles from Israel and 180 miles from Lebanon. 

This makes the island very significant for the UK’s and its allies’ operations in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East. 

On June 19, 2024, the leader of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah said that Cyprus could come under attack if it allowed its airbases to be used against Hezbollah. 

However, Cyprus’s president Nikos Christodoulides has denied Cyprus’ involvement in any conflict and the UK Foreign Office maintains that travelling to Cyprus is safe.

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Should I cancel my holiday to Cyprus?

With no travel warnings currently in place, it is not advised to cancel your stay on the island.

Anyone with a trip booked is unlikely to get a refund for their trip unless the UK government advises against travel.

If you are nervous about your vacation, then you should contact your tour operator instead, as you may be able to move your dates instead.

What do you need to travel to Cyprus?

You can travel to Cyprus without a visa for 90 days. 

However, you must remember your passport that is comfortably in date.

You may also need to be able to produce your ticket and return ticket, as well as proof that you have enough money for your stay.