Examining the Theory That Dating Apps Have Incentives to Perform Poorly
By
zdw
6mo ago· 7 min readenInsight
90/100
Golden Brown
Bagelometer↗
The bagel they save for the regulars. Don't skim, savour.
Score90TypeanalysisSentimentneutral
Summary
The article critiques the common theory that dating apps intentionally perform poorly to keep users paying, arguing this 'perverse incentives' theory is too simplistic. The author explains that while the theory seems logical on the surface, it fails to account for network effects, competition, and the complex dynamics of platform businesses. The piece suggests that dating apps actually have strong incentives to create successful matches to attract more users and maintain their market position, rather than deliberately providing poor service.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe thing about dating apps is that if they do a good job and match people up, then the matched people will quit the app and stop paying. So they have an incentive to string people along but not to actually help people find long-term relationships.
May I explain why I don't find this type of theory very helpful?
I'm not saying that I think it's wrong, mind you. Rather, my objection is that while the theory is phrased in terms of dating apps, the logic applies much more broadly.
The theory is essentially about perverse incentives - when a business model creates motivations that work against customer interests.
It’s so easy
