The History Of Online Dating
Daunting and infamous as it may be for some, online dating is not as taboo as it once was. It has become the most popular way to date. While swiping left and right could be a trivial task, and a time killer it is suitable for many. And the phenomenon has grown exponentially over the years. Dating online will propel to nearly 280 million users across all dating platforms by 2024.
There are dating sites for everything from, single cat lovers, Jewish Singles, Asian Singles, Black Singles, to over 50 dating , professional online dating, and the list goes on.
In the 1970’s the closest resemblance to online dating was referred to as computer dating, a surprise discovery we found while watching a rerun episode of “Three’s Company” where Jack was matched with Janet, and like the unease of online dating in the early 2000’s, computer dating had the same effect, if not more. Both Jack and Janet lied about having completed a dating profile and having been matched by a computer. They omitted some facts about themselves including their names due to the awkwardness and shame of computer dating. This, like most relatable comedies was comedic gold when they soon came face to face on their blind date.
We looked further into computer dating and discovered that the concept actually came in 1959 at Stanford University by Jim Harvey and Philip Fialer, while they were simply doing a class project, not at all fathoming commercialization. The two were in a class called “ Math 139, Theory and Operation of Computing Machines.” They devised a questionnaire on punch cards for what they called The Happy Families Planning Service. The cards were fed into a main frame, IBM model 650 computer , that would couple up 98 students, making 49 couple’s, though unsuccessful matches, they were quite the matchmaking pioneers.
In 1964, Joan Ball of the UK would be the first to run a commercially successful computer dating service, called ‘Com-Pat’, short for computerized compatibility. She translated survey answers about what a prospective lover did not want in a partner to punch cards, which she ran through a time-shared computer. She would fail financially, before selling her company to competitors but she was the first in the world to commercialize computer dating.
In 1965, Harvard students, Jeff Tar and Vaughan Morrill would plan something similar. Tar, frustrated with blind dating, wanted to improve his odds and the overall dating experience . Along with Morril, they came up with a questionnaire that contained 75 questions. Those questions ranged from innocuous inquiries, such as music preferences and greatest influences, to more racy details like the likelihood to kiss on a first date and a self-declared “sexual experience” ranking. They would call this Operation Match. https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2016/02/alumni-profile-jeff-tarr-ab-66
Unlike Stanford’s Alum “Operation Match” was commercialized. For the cost of $3 a single man or single woman completed a dating questionnaire, and returned it via mail. Responses were coded onto punch cards and fed into a computer, which generated compatibility matches based on their answers. Clients were notified in writing of their six most compatible matches, listing their names, addresses, phone numbers, and college graduation years. More than 100,000 college students responded, after 2 yrs the company was sold. Fast forward to 2004 and Tarr’s daughter would be influenced by his innovation and launch OKcupid.
In 1993, Match.com was founded by Gary Kremen and Peng T. Ong in San Francisco, revolutionizing dating as we knew it, by taking it online. Match Group is the leader in Online dating, and dominates having secured other brands in their portfolio, such as OkCupid, Tinder, Match, Meetic, Hinge, Pairs, PlentyOfFish, BLK, Hyperconnect, Ablo, Chispa and OurTime.
In the late 90’s America Online or AOL became a pop culture phenomenon, not only was it an introduction to the internet for many, it was an entire network to meet people near and far in virtual chat rooms where you could talk about endless topics. Chat rooms were plentiful and you could pop in and out, and jump into private chats that you created. In 1998 “You’ve got mail” became a blockbuster hit and finding love online became fantasy for many.
By the early 2000’s it was still taboo to meet someone online and many couples who were matched online were bashful to admit where they met. A stark contrast with singles today who freely admit to online dating and couples who met online have shed that stigma.
As of March 2020, the most popular online dating site was Badoo.com, with 182.5 million visits during the month. Though Badoo doesn’t outright claim dating, it is designed to connect like minded individuals for whatever purposes. Following Badoo, was POF with 103.8 visits in March 2020. Both sites increase their stats as of November 2021.
The the world’s introduction to online dating is nothing new. It’s popularity, and usage will continue to grow, improve, and innovate. We wonder what’s next!?
Happy Dating!