Online DatingOnline Dating The Use of the Internet to Meet Partners

……Did Online Dating Really Did Online Dating Really Kill Cupid?Kill Cupid?

History and BackgroundHistory 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 talkedabout freely

Personal ads went mainstream in early 20th century died off until the

1960’s

From Newspaper to From Newspaper to the Internetthe 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?How Does it Work?

The The MathMath Behind Matchmaking Behind Matchmaking

What’s an Algorithm?◦It is an effective method for solving a problem

expressed as a finite sequence of steps

AlgorithmsAlgorithms

• 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

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.

Algorithms ContinuedAlgorithms Continued

Different Types of Dating SitesDifferent Types of Dating Sites

Major sites ◦eHarmony.com◦Chemistry.com◦Plentyoffish.com

Specialized sites◦Womenbehindbars.com◦420dating.com◦Ashleymadison.com◦Nolongerlonely.com

The The ScienceScience Behind Behind MatchmakingMatchmaking

Science-based dating sites

Their Methods◦DNA matchmaking◦Sweaty t-shirt study

Online Dating Online Dating Business ModelsBusiness Models

2 primary business models:◦Subscription based◦Free based

Subscription site fees vary from 16-50 dollarsSubscription sites use matchmaking service

1 in 5 new relationships begin on a dating siteSubscription sites also allow users to browse by

region, ethnicity, religion, body type, etc.

Business Models: Free-basedBusiness 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: Business Models: Free-based Cont.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 InternetImpact of Internet77% of our Population uses the Internet

News, Information, Research

Shopping

User Reviews

Social Networking

Entertainment

Why Choose Online Why Choose Online Dating?Dating?

Busy Lives

Tired of Bar Scene

Expand your social circle

More reasons online dating More reasons online dating services is on the rise: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?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).

ProsPros & & ConsCons

Same Interests

DangersDangers

FraudSecurity and PrivacyStalkingPhysical AssaultIdentity TheftExposure to Offensive Material

Play It SafePlay 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?Questions/Comments?