Online Dating
The Use of the Internet to Meet Partners
…Did Online Dating Really
Kill Cupid?
History and Background

In the 1700’s bachelors searched for wives through printed ads

Matrimonial agencies were a big business
in Britain by the 18th century

Being single pass the age of 21 was
considered shameful
Print ads were a last resort for men who
advertised and women who read them


If a match was made, it was not talked
about freely

Personal ads went mainstream in early
20th century died off until the
1960’s
From Newspaper to
the Internet

Internet dating is the modern version of the first “matrimonial”
agencies of the 1700’s

First major internet dating websites combination of Kiss.com and
Match.com, both registered by the same person in 1994 &
1995

Other dating sites at the time but were more focused on
international dating and “mail order bride” services

The online dating market quickly exploded

AOL and Yahoo revamped their personals/dating section due to
the popularity of online dating

By 1996 there were 16 dating websites listed
in Yahoo

Yahoo was a directory at the time

The 1998 movie “You got mail”
put a positive light on meeting people online

Online dating still thriving, Americans spent
over $500 million on online dating in 2007

Expected to increase to $932 million in 2011

Online dating is the 2nd highest industry for
paid content on the web
How Does it Work?
Step 1: Pick a site of your
interest
Step 2: Create a
profile
Step 3: Make
contact
The Math Behind Matchmaking

What’s an Algorithm?
◦ It is an effective method for solving a problem
expressed as a finite sequence of steps
Algorithms
•
Pepper Schwartz’s algorithm
– Developed one of the first algorithm
– Calculation to match daters with similar variables
– Match.com
•
Helen Fisher’s algorithm
– Designed an algorithm to link brain chemistry traits as
well as psychological and sociological variables
• Categorizes people as an explorer, builder, director or
negotiator
Algorithms Continued

Galen Buckwalter’s algorithm

Soulmate Calculator
◦ His algorithm uses 29 variables
 social type
 relationship style
 emotional personality
◦ eHarmony
◦ These mathematical calculators allow you to rank a desired
mate by variables like:
 religious preference
 risk tolerance
 Ambition
 humor.
◦ Decide how wide a location and age range you are willing to
consider, hit the calculate button and the system will do the
math and tell you the statistical probability of meeting your
perfect mate.
Different Types of Dating Sites

Major sites
◦ eHarmony.com
◦ Chemistry.com
◦ Plentyoffish.com

Specialized sites
◦
◦
◦
◦
Womenbehindbars.com
420dating.com
Ashleymadison.com
Nolongerlonely.com
The Science Behind
Matchmaking

Science-based dating sites

Their Methods
◦ DNA matchmaking
◦ Sweaty t-shirt study
Online Dating
Business Models

2 primary business models:
◦ Subscription based
◦ Free based

Subscription site fees vary from 16-50 dollars
Subscription sites use matchmaking service

1 in 5 new relationships begin on a dating site
 Subscription sites also allow users to browse by
region, ethnicity, religion, body type, etc.

Business Models: Free-based

Subscription is free, with premium services offered at
a cost

Made possible by online advertising

Free sites include PlentyofFish and okcupid

PlentyofFish sees in excess of 1 billion site visits per
month

Creator of PlentyofFish estimates his site generates
100,000 marriages a year.
Business Models:
Free-based Cont.

Affiliate marketing:
◦ Advertising products and services, sharing the
profits with the website

Selling of user’s personal data:
◦ Sold to advertisers/marketing firms

Social networking sites Facebook and Myspace
also accused of selling user’s data
Impact of Internet

77% of our Population uses the Internet

News, Information, Research

Shopping

User Reviews

Social Networking

Entertainment
Why Choose Online
Dating?

Busy Lives

Tired of Bar Scene

Expand your social circle
More reasons online dating
services is on the rise:

Gives you the ability to access thousands of profiles of future potential
“matches”.

Your prospective love connections are not limited by the people you meet
in your job, school, or social circle.

Trusted security measures are set up to retain your privacy and safety.

Your in charge of who you want to meet or talk to.

You make the decision whether to meet someone.

Online dating is reasonably affordable.
Successful?

Married couples who met online have an average courtship period of 18.5 months, and those who
met offline courtship period last on average 42 months.

In the last year 17% of couples who married met on a dating site.

1 in 5 singles have dated someone they met on a dating site.

1 in 5 singles are currently in a committed relationship with someone they met on a dating site.

On average 10 percent of members pay for the dating service and stay for less than 3 months

For singles who use dating sites, 33% form a relationship, 33% do not, and 33% give up on dating
online.

Singles who are more likely to use dating sites are ones who are more sociable and have high selfesteem. They also put more value in romantic relationships.

China - The number of singles who use online dating sites in China is expected to reach 140 million
by 2010 (The US is only at 40 million).
Pros & Cons
Choices
Men out #
women
Same
Interests
Misrepresentation
Rejection
“You’re
Reduction
Married!!??”
Getting to know
each other before
physical
interaction
Scam
Artists
Dangers






Fraud
Security and Privacy
Stalking
Physical Assault
Identity Theft
Exposure to Offensive Material
Play It Safe

Plan first dates in public areas

Make sure your friends know
where you are on dates

Ask a lot of detailed questions

NEVER send money to someone online

Keep your information to a minimum
Questions/Comments?