BLK App Launches Events Feature for In-Person Social Connections

The dating and social app BLK launched a new feature called Events on Tuesday, October 13. The tool allows users to discover local gatherings, reserve spots, and communicate with other attendees directly through the app.

The launch event took place at Alta Adams, a Black-owned restaurant in Los Angeles. Media representatives and content creators attended the gathering to preview the new functionality.

Users can now browse curated social activities rather than relying solely on profile swiping. The platform includes options for non-romantic interactions such as yoga classes and coffee meetups. This design aims to create a lower-pressure environment for meeting new people.

BLK cites internal research to support the feature's development. The survey found that nearly 70% of singles reported feeling lonely. Additionally, 60% of respondents said they preferred meeting potential partners in spaces where their culture already gathers. Another 60% indicated they did not know where to go to meet people in person.

Amber Cooper, BLK's Senior Manager of Brand Marketing, described the feature as a direct response to user feedback. "We like to meet our users where they're at. We like to hear them, and we like to create solutions for them," Cooper said. She added that the goal is to make finding welcoming social experiences easier.

The Events feature is part of a larger marketing campaign focused on cuffing season. The campaign includes a digital comedy series titled Cuffing Season 101, which stars social media creator Zoe Spencer. The series is structured as a classroom-inspired sitcom that addresses modern dating dilemmas.

The first episode, titled History Class, aired on October 27. It traces the term "cuffing season" from its 2011 entry on Urban Dictionary to its inclusion in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Subsequent episodes cover topics such as relationship red flags, the ambiguity of the talking stage, and planning low-pressure first dates.

A separate component of the campaign involves a community-voted ranking of neighborhoods for Black singles. Houston's Third Ward ranked first on the list. Chicago's Hyde Park and Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy followed in second and third place, respectively.