As human communications expert Liesel Sharabi explains, the algorithms underlying the matchmaking have evolved enormously in complexity over recent years, and our relationship with online dating apps have become a long-term prospect. Keywords: algorithms, machine learning, matchmaking, online dating, recommender systems.
Online dating has become the most common way for couples to meet in the United States Rosenfeld et al. Fifty-two percent of Americans who have never been married say they have tried their luck with online dating Anderson et al. There is also evidence that online dating may be changing the composition of real-world relationships. According to a study by Cacioppo et al. Outside of the United States, millions of people use online dating services Maybin et al.
Online dating generally progresses through a series of stages that involve filling out a profile, matching, messaging, and, if all goes well, meeting in person. Although success can mean different things depending on the person, meeting face-to-face be it for casual sex or for a committed relationship is generally a good indicator that a platform has done its job Ellison et al.
The problem for data science is finding the best way to filter and sort at the matching stage in order to make recommendations that will lead to successful outcomes.
Most online dating platforms do this by relying on algorithms and artificial intelligence AI to introduce users to partners with whom they might be compatible.
