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
◦ His algorithm uses 29 variables
social type
relationship style
emotional personality
◦ eHarmony
Soulmate Calculator
◦ 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 self-
esteem. 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
Men out #
Choices women
Same Mis-
Interests representation
Rejection “You’re
Reduction Married!!??”
Getting to know
each other before Scam
physical
interaction 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?