Online Dating

The Use of the Internet to Meet Partners

Did Online Dating Really
Kill Cupid?
History and Background
In the 1700s bachelors searched for wives through printed ads

Matrimonial agencies were a big business
in Britain by the 18
th
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
20
th
century died off until the
1960s

From Newspaper to
the Internet

Internet dating is the modern version of the first matrimonial
agencies of the 1700s

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 2
nd
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

Whats an Algorithm?
It is an effective method for solving a problem
expressed as a finite sequence of steps

Algorithms
Pepper Schwartzs algorithm
Developed one of the first algorithm
Calculation to match daters with similar variables
Match.com

Helen Fishers 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

Galen Buckwalters 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.
Algorithms Continued
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 users personal data:
Sold to advertisers/marketing firms

Social networking sites Facebook and Myspace
also accused of selling users 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
Choices
Men out #
women
Scam
Artists
Youre
Married!!??
Mis-
representation
Getting to know
each other before
physical
interaction
Rejection
Reduction
Same
Interests
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?