MSNBC TODAY NEWS - Feb 8 - Punch cards and personal ads gave way to the first online dating sites, launched in the mid-90s. By 2001, industry revenues were just $40M. Today, they’re approaching $2 billion. eHarmony owns 15% of the market. The company says the goal is to help you find someone - like you. Similarity allows couples to understand each other better, said Gian Gonzaga, the company’s chief research scientist. “We like to say that opposites attract and then later on they attack.” Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, questions whether algorithms used by online dating sites actually work. He studied thousands of online interactions, examining market value — what makes us attractive online. In men, the research shows, height and salary are key. Education also counts - for some online daters. “More educated men are more desirable,” said Ariely. “For women, there's no value for education.”
by Amy Robach and Deborah Camiel
See full article at MSNBC Today News
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