Here are several fun bits and pieces from an article that appeared on MR a bit ago. We’ll start with the funny parts.
The authors’ take on the effects of online dating on consumer behavior:
An additional knock-on effectof online datingthat initial potential mate matching is increasingly visual, leading to secular demand growth in cosmetics and photography products, while fragrance sales remain flat because their value is irrelevant in the current market. This is largely facilitated via Instagram and mobile usage, and while it is a less important point to this thesis overview, it is an area for more detailed research and discussion
On the forces driving the fundamental structural changes in the dating market:
A conservative estimate of the percentage of new relationships begun online in 2019 is at least 65%, but likely over 75%. So, online dating now produces most new relationships. Why? From the perspective of prime reproductive age individuals, cost structures (safety, monetary, time, social frictions, etc.) have shifted, with many dropping to effectively zero. Because costs (physical safety, social stigma)have been disproportionately impactful to women, their elimination has had the effect of flipping the power dynamic in the market to favor women in prime reproductive age, though the dynamic changes with age.
and an (uplifting) implication:
With the advent of online dating, women in prime reproductive age are in the dominant position in the dating market for the first time in human history.
People tend to be rude and nasty on the internet, especially in romantic contexts if there’s some level of anonymity involved. Yet, online dating seems to be a great improvement for those have been historically disadvantaged by traditional dating methods.
