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SW Network powers Microsoft GroupMe’s India debut
Mumbai: SW Network recently announced its partnership with Microsoft to promote GroupMe, a messaging app.
Microsoft GroupMe is a popular college chat app in the US, that has recently launched in India to amplify and foster student connections on college campuses. SW Network has kickstarted a GroupMe Campus Ambassador Program at Symbiosis, Pune. This strategic partnership of student leaders and GroupMe ensures that the program meets the needs and interests of the student community. This program is to help support GroupMe adoption through community-led activations centered around the needs and interests of university scholars.
The GroupMe campus leaders community is comprised of active and involved Symbiosis students. These leaders will facilitate and lead offline events, initiate engaging conversations in the University GroupMe app, and promote extensive student involvement. The ambassador campaign features various activities for students, such as stand-up comedy tours, prom nights, special events, surprise giveaways, and workshops conducted by influential Microsoft leaders. The invitations to these events are exclusively available to GroupMe users.
SW Network co-founder Pranav Agarwal expressed his vision about the launch collaboration, stating, “From our understanding of the Indian student pool, we believe that this collaboration reflects our commitment to employing tactical digital strategies that not only promote but also deeply engage with the young minds. Through our carefully curated campus ambassador program at Symbiosis Pune, we aimed to leverage our deep understanding of the student audience to foster genuine connections and build a thriving student community. By organizing attractive events and also utilizing the influence of our campus leaders, we aim to make GroupMe – the preferred communication platform for students all across India. We believe this initiative goes beyond mere promotion of an app; It’s more about creating meaningful interactions and contributing to the development of a vibrant and thriving student ecosystem in our country.”
Commenting on this strategic partnership, Microsoft India’s Priyadarshini Verma said, “The launch of Microsoft GroupMe in India was a much-needed initiator for the student community. Through GroupMe, we aim to revolutionize how students connect and communicate, fostering a sense of community and engagement on campuses across the country. By partnering with SW Network, we are not only promoting a powerful communication platform but also creating more meaningful, productive interactions and opportunities for students. We believe that GroupMe will soon become an indispensable part of the student experience in India, driving innovation, collaboration, and fostering a stronger sense of belonging among students.”
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
