Re:Fake Men on Hinge
by Rebelgecko on Tuesday October 04, 2022 @02:02AM
(#33077075)
The problem with most relationship-orienter dating apps (eg not necessarily Tinder or Grindr although not everyone uses those apps the same way) is that the monetization is based on maximizing and prolonging user engagement. In other words, they have a financial incentive for you to remain single.
I've thought a bit about how to prevent that in a way that isn't too easily gamed while aligning the incentives of users and apps.
My first thought was that users of the app pay some high-but-not-obscene sign up fee (let's say $250, but knowing how dating apps work this number would probably move up and down based on an area's COL, user's demographics like are and gender, profession, W-2 scans, etc). After x years, if the user is still single they get their money back (base this off of marriage records, app activity, or whatever). The app can invest the money in the meantime, so even if most users end up in relationships before the deadline they can still generate returns (IIRC this is actually how insurance companies get a lot of their revenue).
I think if there's one lump sum people are gonna be more inclined to game the system, so one variation is to make it more of a trickle of money. eg every time a pair of matched users verify that they've gone on a date, they get $10. Enough money that they might bother logging it in the app, but not so high (hopefully) that people would go on fake dates.
However I think due to the additional friction these options still wouldn't be very successful. The low barrier to entry is part of why apps get critical mass and become successful.
I've thought a bit about how to prevent that in a way that isn't too easily gamed while aligning the incentives of users and apps.
My first thought was that users of the app pay some high-but-not-obscene sign up fee (let's say $250, but knowing how dating apps work this number would probably move up and down based on an area's COL, user's demographics like are and gender, profession, W-2 scans, etc). After x years, if the user is still single they get their money back (base this off of marriage records, app activity, or whatever). The app can invest the money in the meantime, so even if most users end up in relationships before the deadline they can still generate returns (IIRC this is actually how insurance companies get a lot of their revenue).
I think if there's one lump sum people are gonna be more inclined to game the system, so one variation is to make it more of a trickle of money. eg every time a pair of matched users verify that they've gone on a date, they get $10. Enough money that they might bother logging it in the app, but not so high (hopefully) that people would go on fake dates.
However I think due to the additional friction these options still wouldn't be very successful. The low barrier to entry is part of why apps get critical mass and become successful.