Dating tips from Computer Scientists
In addition to Jennifer Aaker’s Power of Social Technology class at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, I’m also taking a course on designing social software led by Sep Kamvar and Jeffrey Heer in the computer science department.
Today we reviewed research in onboarding newcomers to a social network. Lots of talk about Facebook research from a CHI’09 paper.
But the data that really struck me was an analysis of 500K first contact interactions on the online dating site OkCupid.
Apparently, the words you use to make a first impression weigh heavily in establishing future relationships (below bar charts show green as positive influence, red as negative influence as plotted against average response rate of 32%).
To summarize:
Tip 1: Stay away from creepy/trashy greetings
Tip 2: Don’t use “net speak”, you will not be cool.
Tip 3: Avoid physical complements
Tip 4: Avoid religion in opening conversations
Based on empirical data, the conclusion is obvious
Don’t say: Hey, sexy cutie, luv ur god, cant u holla?
Instead, say: What’s up atheist? It’s nice that you’re awesome.
.
