Match Group's portfolio has overtaken the dating market in the U.S. with its star apps Tinder and Hinge. Could it replicate that success by making platonic connections over video?
The company recently rolled out Azar, its one-on-one random video chat app, in the United States after launching in Europe earlier this year. To date, Azar has seen strong interest among Gen Z users, CEO Linda Kim says. Sixty percent of its users globally are Gen Z, Fast Company has learned. That age group specifically, she adds, "is really looking for that instant, authentic connection."
Azar's premise is simple: A user provides their name and age to create an account. They can set filters, like a beauty filter or background, and are then matched with another user who is online. It's free to use, but users who want to match with someone of a specific gender or in a specific location have to pay for those a la carte offerings.
The app's formal introduction to the United States comes at a time when Americans are lonelier than ever. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared a national loneliness and social isolation epidemic throughout the country in 2023, calling for Americans to invest in social connection similar to how we've focused on the obesity or the addiction crisis. Evidence has shown that loneliness is linked to a variety of physical and mental health issues, including depression, dementia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and substance abuse.