MSNBC TODAY NEWS – Feb 8 – Punch cards and personal ads gave way to the first online dating sites, launched in the mid-90s. By 2001, industry revenues were just $40M. Today, they’re approaching $2 billion. eHarmony owns 15% of the market. The company says the goal is to help you find someone – like you. Similarity allows couples to understand each other better, said Gian Gonzaga, the company’s chief research scientist. “We like to say that opposites attract and then later on they attack.” Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, questions whether algorithms used by online dating sites actually work. He studied thousands of online interactions, examining market value — what makes us attractive online. In men, the research shows, height and salary are key. Education also counts – for some online daters. “More educated men are more desirable,” said Ariely. “For women, there's no value for education.”
by Amy Robach and Deborah Camiel
The full article was originally published at MSNBC News Today, but is no longer available.
More like $1.4B for the USA revenues.
Of course dating algorithms are questionable. This is a virgin science. Academics are disappointed not to have seen grants and more drive to help develop better algorithms and process the huge amounts of data now available. Dating sites need to make better use of the brain power available at universities, which means opening up more, and opening up the coffers a little.
More like $1.4B for the USA revenues.
Of course dating algorithms are questionable. This is a virgin science. Academics are disappointed not to have seen grants and more drive to help develop better algorithms and process the huge amounts of data now available. Dating sites need to make better use of the brain power available at universities, which means opening up more, and opening up the coffers a little.