Dating: A Mysterious Constellation of Facts

6 months ago

Dating apps are popular but widely disliked, leading to a supposed resurgence in alternatives like speed dating.
The paradox: if dating apps are bad, why don't better alternatives emerge? Network effects are often cited as the reason, creating an oligopoly.
Match Group, owner of major dating apps, shows high profitability, similar to entrenched tech companies.
Speed dating events, with small numbers, can be effective, raising questions about why dating apps can't replicate this success.
Three theories explored: Selection (attendees might be better matches), Bandwidth (in-person interactions provide more information), and Behavior (people act differently in person).
Obscure theories include niche markets, inherent success of certain individuals, and technological difficulty in creating apps.
Conclusion: In-person interactions' high bandwidth is key, while dating apps' low bandwidth requires large pools, leading to network effects and profit extraction.
Question remains: Why aren't dating apps improving to provide better information like in-person interactions?

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