{{Short description|Geosocial networking application}} {{Infobox software | name = Blendr | logo = Wpid-Project-Amicus-title.png | caption = The obsolete Project Amicus logo | developer = Blendr LLC | released = {{Start date|2011|09|08}} | discontinued = yes | ver layout = stacked | latest release version = {{Multiple releases |branch1 = Android |version1 = 5.111.4 |date1 = {{Start date and age|2019|04|02}} |branch2 = iOS |version2 = 5.6.0 |date2 = {{Start date and age|2017|05|12}} }} | operating system = iOS, Android | size = '''Android:''' 28.21 MB<br/>'''iOS:''' 166MB | genre = Online Dating | website = {{URL|blendr.com}} }} '''Blendr''' was an online dating application based on geosocial networking for Android, iOS and Facebook. It is designed to connect like-minded people near to each other. It was created by Joel Simkhai and patterned after his previous app Grindr<ref name=nbcla/> (an app aimed at gay men).<ref name=guardian/> Blendr claims to be "powered by" Badoo<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blendr.com/en/privacy/|access-date=2012-10-12|title=Badoo's Privacy Policy|archive-date=2012-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016033608/http://blendr.com/en/privacy/|url-status=dead}}</ref> but largely appears to be the same service. As of 2022, it had 200 million users worldwide and requires users to be over the age of 18.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/blendr-chat-flirt-meet/id434528779 |title=Blendr - Chat, Flirt & Meet |website=App Store |access-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830043248/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/blendr-chat-flirt-meet/id434528779 |archive-date=August 30, 2022}}</ref>
On 31 October 2022, Blendr ceased activity in all territories worldwide. A statement on the Blendr website stated that all user data would be deleted by 30 November 2022 and the website would go offline from 7 December 2022.
==Description== The application combined GPS location sensing with a social networking framework, to provide users with the opportunity to meet people who were near to each other.<ref name=nbcla>{{cite news|last=Medina|first=Mekhalo|title=A New Social Blendr|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/tech/A-New-Dating-Blendr-129452388.html|access-date=5 October 2011|newspaper=NBC LA|date=8 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701162856/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/tech/A-New-Dating-Blendr-129452388.html |archive-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> The application could also be used to communicate with people in real time about a location, such as getting information about the current status of a local restaurant,<ref name=bostonherald>{{cite news|last=Sperance|first=Cameron|title=New social app raises fears|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1370508|access-date=5 October 2011|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=3 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004001119/http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1370508 |archive-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref> or for determining whether a club currently held people that the user might want to meet.<ref name=guardian/> Users needed to be over the age of 18.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|last=Hudson|first=Alex|title=Love on the go? There's an app for that|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14884588|access-date=5 October 2011|date=13 September 2011|work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527044127/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-14884588 |archive-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref>
Users provided a photograph and basic information about their interests (though they were not required to give out their actual name or other personal details), and then were able to browse other people who were nearby to their present location. In order to protect the privacy of its users, the application only provided a rough estimate of the user's location, and also allowed users to limit themselves to contact with people who met their self-defined criteria.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|last=Wortham|first=Jenna|title=Finding an Instant Date Nearby, With an App|url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/finding-an-instant-date-nearby-with-an-app/|access-date=5 October 2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=8 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203123202/http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/finding-an-instant-date-nearby-with-an-app/ |archive-date=December 3, 2011}}</ref> Simkhai had specifically designed Blendr to be less focused on casual sexual encounters than Grindr is, intending it to be a tool for meeting new people who share common interests from business to hobbies and relationships of all types.<ref name=guardian>{{cite news|last=Neate|first=Rupert|title=Welcome to Blendr, the straight dating app following in Grindr's footsteps|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/sep/12/blendr-straight-dating-app-grindr|access-date=5 October 2011|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 September 2011|location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527021118/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/sep/12/blendr-straight-dating-app-grindr |archive-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref> The company had strict rules forbidding the use of nudity, pictures or written descriptions of sexual acts, as well as racist statements or other hate speech.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blendr Profile Guidelines|url=http://www.blendr.com/profile-guidelines|publisher=Blendr LLC|access-date=5 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007164758/http://blendr.com/profile-guidelines|archive-date=7 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Platforms== Blendr was available through the website, or for iOS devices through the iTunes app store and for Android through Google Play. As of September 2012, the application was free and supported by advertising, with a subscription option for increased functionality.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lefkow |first=Chris |date=Sep 18, 2011 |title=New iPhone app Blendr offers dating in real time |url=https://phys.org/news/2011-09-iphone-app-blendr-dating-real.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 14, 2026 |website=Phys.org}}</ref>
==History== Blendr was announced to the press at SXSW on March{{nbs}}14, 2011, under the code name '''Project Amicus'''.<ref name=vanityfair/> The name "Blendr" was ultimately revealed when the app launched in the iTunes app store on September{{nbs}}8, 2011.<ref name=vanityfair>{{cite news|last=Kapp|first=Matt|title=Grindr: Welcome to the World's Biggest, Scariest Gay Bar|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/05/grindr-201105|access-date=5 October 2011|date=8 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610172610/http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/05/grindr-201105|archive-date=10 June 2011}}</ref>
Blendr released a statement that the service would cease activity in all territories worldwide on 31{{nbs}}October 2022, and all user data would be deleted by 30{{nbs}}November 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=An update from Blendr |url=https://blendr.com/service-blocked |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019051304/https://blendr.com/service-blocked |archive-date=19 October 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Internet|Human sexuality|Society}} *Comparison of online dating services *Timeline of online dating services
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:iOS software Category:Geosocial networking Category:Meta Platforms applications Category:Mobile social software Category:LGBTQ-related websites Category:2011 software Category:Android (operating system) software Category:Online dating applications