DailyDirt: Modern Dating

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Wed, Apr 16th 2014 5:00pm — Michael Ho

Trying to find a date using statistics and computers isn't exactly a new idea. (Punch cards were used in some of the earliest versions of computer dating.) As technology has improved, you might expect that dating has gotten better as well, but some modifications of the Drake equation show just how unlikely the odds are. Here are a few more data points in the realm of romantic relationships.

A Canadian study suggests that kids who start dating early (at an average age of 11.6 years old) are prone to more school and behavioral problems than their late-booming peers. Not surprisingly, students with high academic goals were more likely to be late bloomers on the dating scene. [url]
The "Yelp for Men" app lets women rate guys/ex-boyfriends/bosses as relationship material -- algorithmically generating a score (on a 1-10 scale) for every dude. The company behind the app boasts that 25% of all college women have used Lulu at some point. [url]
The Pew Research Center has been tracking online dating statistics and has seen online dating get more popular with time. Nearly 60% of all internet users say online dating is a sensible way to meet people (up from 44% in 2005). [url]

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Filed Under: algorithm, dating, drake equation, lulu, pew research center

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Mason Wheeler (profile), 16 Apr 2014 @ 5:03pm

A Canadian study suggests that kids who start dating early (at an average age of 11.6 years old) are prone to more school and behavioral problems than their late-booming peers.

Isn't this pretty solidly established? I first heard about this almost 20 years ago and it was considered pretty non-controversial (except among hormonal (pre-)teens, of course) even back then.
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- Anonymous Coward, 16 Apr 2014 @ 5:30pm
  
  Re:
  implying implications?
  
  I don't think that 99% of 11 year olds who are "dating" are doing the kind of dating that 16-17 year olds are doing.
  
  "hormonal"
  
  A bit of a stretch for that age group. More like a crush and playing grown ups or coerced, even if inadvertently coerced by social surroundings.
  
  once knew a kid,
  the same age as me,
  about 11,
  parents were drunks,
  hung around with 16 year olds,
  doing 16 year old stuff,
  partying,
  drinking,
  got a girlfriend same age,
  similar situation,
  her parents were absent,
  partied together with older kids,
  doing older kid stuff,
  they had a kid,
  both parents at 12,
  
  Roll on a few years and I met him while out and got talking. He was about 25 then, told me that they only had sex because it was "cool" at the time and they didn't have sex again until they were about 15. They are still together btw... his kid is brought up ok too, which is a surprise considering.
  
  Anyway, he was "coerced by social surroundings". Environmental, not biological. Not at that age anyway.
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- Anonymous Coward, 16 Apr 2014 @ 7:28pm
  
  Re:
  "Isn't this pretty solidly established?"
  
  You're asking me? ... Oh, wait - it was rhetorical.
  
  Is this an Argument from Repetition, Historian's Fallacy or a Mind Projection Fallacy?
  
  Or maybe it's an Appeal to Authority.
  
  Doesn't matter, no supporting arguments implies bullshit.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - G Thompson (profile), 16 Apr 2014 @ 8:06pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Just finished "Social Psychology 101" & "How to be an twat online" did you?
    
    I'm gathering you Aced both courses!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 17 Apr 2014 @ 5:39am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Simply because someone years ago claimed a truth was self evident - we, today are compelled to adherence of its truthiness and must not question its veracity. To do so will bring the wrath of the Internet police.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous, 19 Apr 2014 @ 6:17pm
  
  Re:
  More propaganda from the "protec' da chilldrin" crowd.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 16 Apr 2014 @ 9:30pm

Not surprisingly, students with high academic goals were more likely to be late bloomers on the dating scene.

This just in: Nerds don't get dates. Are forced to go with their cousin to prom. More at 11.
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- Anonymous Coward, 17 Apr 2014 @ 5:42am
  
  Re:
  But - but ... that ruins my ill conceived notions about kids these days.
  
  Damn you logic!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]