Cupid.com
Type of site | Online dating service |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | London, UK |
| URL | Cupid.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Required for membership |
| Launched | 1 June 2002 |
| Current status | active |
Cupid.com is an online dating website previously owned by Cupid plc, a company originally called Easydate, that was based in Edinburgh.
History
[edit]The Cupid.com dating website launched in the United Kingdom on 1 June 2002.[citation needed] Edinburgh based[1] Easydate purchased Cupid.com for £4.4 million in 2010, but had been operating Cupid.com in non-US markets, via a licensing agreement, previously.[2] Easydate was later renamed as Cupid plc, after legal discussions with easyGroup, who had concerns about the name.[3]
Following a BBC investigation, the website was accused of using fake profiles to entice customers in 2013. The company subsequently commissioned KPMG to investigate, who found that there was “no evidence of a company-organised practice”. The company was criticised for staff profiles not being transparently labelled as such, which the company committed to rectify in the future.[4][1]
Cupid.com was significantly impacted by new market entrants such as Tinder. This led to Cupid plc selling their last online dating assets, including Cupid.com, for £3 million in 2014.[5][6]
Wingman Barney
[edit]Cupid.com launched a feature called Wingman Barney. This was a virtual wingman that helped people to start a conversation with someone they liked.[7]
Redesign
[edit]In June 2016, the website was totally redesigned and rebranded. New features such as Quiz-matching and Likebook were introduced, along with a refreshed user interface.[8]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Online dating firm Cupid acts over allegations". BBC News. 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ Milmo, Dan (2010-09-22). "Easydate dating website announces new partner". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ "Easydate forced to change name". BBC News. 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ Robinson, Duncan (2013-07-01). "Dating website Cupid cleared of deliberately using fake profiles". Financial Times. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ Neville, Simon (2014-12-08). "How Tinder shot down Cupid". The Independent. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ Neville, Simon (2014-12-08). "Cupid's love affair with online dating is over after tussle with Tinder". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ "'Wingman Barney' Virtual Wingman From Cupid.com Will Help You Boost Your Online Dating Game". Bustle. 2016-06-09.
- ↑ "Cupid Adds Tinder-Style "Like" Game & Improved Safety Features In New Update". GlobalDatingInsights.com. 2016-06-15.