The "Science" of OnLine Dating
It's Valentine's day. Several articles in today's Boston Globe as you might expect are related to it, one of which caught my eye: "Trying to set a fire under online dating." The article notes that while online dating was once scorned, it has become an acceptable way of finding a partner: approximately 33 million people, 16% of all internet users, visited an online dating service in 2006. Furthermore, Americans spent $650 million on digital match-making.
One of the major players in this market, EHarmony.com in Pasadena, CA "has just launched eHarmonyLabs--a romance think tank where PhD psychologists hope to quantify the secrets of lasting relationships. They are focused on the problem that only 5% of internet users are paid subscribers for dating services, and this percentage has remained constant over the last five years. They want to increase this number and their market share.
One of their competitors, Match.com of Dallas has recently hired Dr. Phil for their service. For a minimal $9 per month more, subscribers can take advantage of Dr. Phil's expertise by receiving audio and video messages as well as particularized dating advice.
Dating services are specializing in certain clientele like Christians, Jews, liberals, or conservatives and Hotenough. org a company in New Jersey accepts "only unusually good-looking men and women. Applicants must pass muster with existing members, who rate their looks on a scale of 1 to 10. The applicant must get 25 votes of 8 or more to be admitted." (It's a good think I'm married because I wouldn't stand a chance on this one.)
I'm wondering what thoughts and feelings you might have about this emerging business? What if they were able to quantify everything and after taking a standardized test could match you with 95% certainty that the relationship would last? Would that work for you?
One of the major players in this market, EHarmony.com in Pasadena, CA "has just launched eHarmonyLabs--a romance think tank where PhD psychologists hope to quantify the secrets of lasting relationships. They are focused on the problem that only 5% of internet users are paid subscribers for dating services, and this percentage has remained constant over the last five years. They want to increase this number and their market share.
One of their competitors, Match.com of Dallas has recently hired Dr. Phil for their service. For a minimal $9 per month more, subscribers can take advantage of Dr. Phil's expertise by receiving audio and video messages as well as particularized dating advice.
Dating services are specializing in certain clientele like Christians, Jews, liberals, or conservatives and Hotenough. org a company in New Jersey accepts "only unusually good-looking men and women. Applicants must pass muster with existing members, who rate their looks on a scale of 1 to 10. The applicant must get 25 votes of 8 or more to be admitted." (It's a good think I'm married because I wouldn't stand a chance on this one.)
I'm wondering what thoughts and feelings you might have about this emerging business? What if they were able to quantify everything and after taking a standardized test could match you with 95% certainty that the relationship would last? Would that work for you?
posted by UCC Medfield at 6:36 AM
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