The Dating App Plot Device
9 hours ago
- Dating apps have two conflicting business models: help users find a match and lose them, or keep them paying indefinitely.
- Love is hard to define, and programmatic matching relies on measurable metrics, hoping love emerges.
- The author's interviews revealed confusion about what constitutes a 'good date' and why people remain single despite good dates.
- A key insight: men seek a woman from a nostalgic past that never existed, while women seek a man from an idealized social media fantasy.
- Dating apps share the same user pool and create illusions of perfect partners to keep users swiping and spending.
- Technology enables connection, but true love requires putting devices away and talking in person.
- Some users may prefer ongoing dates without long-term commitment, which apps cater to.
- The user's response adds that men want to be cared for like childhood, and women want a volunteer for multiple services, neither sustainable long-term.