Nov 4 (Reuters) - Match Group ( MTCH ) forecast

fourth-quarter revenue below analysts' estimates on Tuesday,

underscoring ongoing challenges in its turnaround efforts as the

Tinder parent struggles to convert casual swipers into loyal,

paying users.

The company, which also owns popular dating platforms

OkCupid and Plenty of Fish, has invested heavily in rolling out

new features and integrating advanced artificial intelligence

features designed to revitalize user engagement and bolster

security. However, these efforts have yet to produce substantial

gains, with user growth falling short of expectations.

The online dating sector itself is grappling with "swiping

fatigue," pushing younger consumers to seek more interactive and

meaningful ways to connect.

This shift has reshaped the online dating industry, leading

to a fragmented market and intensifying competition. Rivals such

as Bumble, along with numerous niche apps, are forced

to rapidly evolve their offerings to better align with changing

user demands.

Match Group's ( MTCH ) ambitious AI-driven security enhancements,

which include facial verification and automated profile

authenticity checks aimed at addressing growing concerns over

fake profiles and online dating safety, have been widely praised

as industry-leading, but so far have not translated into

measurable improvements in user engagement or retention.

For the third quarter, the company posted a 5% decrease in

its paying users to 14.5 million.

While Hinge, often hailed as Match's rising star, continues

to demonstrate robust growth, it remains too small to offset

broader struggles at Tinder, the company's flagship app.

The company forecasts fourth-quarter revenue between $865

and $875 million, widely missing analysts' estimates of $882.8

million, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Revenue for the third quarter came in at $914 million,

slightly below estimates of $915 million.