Christina Conry
About Me
Hi, I'm Christina! I'm a double major in Business Leadership and Economics, with an emphasis in Marketing. I was inspired by past classes including The Economics of Online Dating and Behavioral Economics to take a behavioral angle to my thesis, and when the pandemic disrupted society and the love lives of many of my friends, I realized the relevancy and interest of this research.
A special thank you to Professor Kate Stirling for her support and for sharing in my excitement for this topic. Thank you to my classmates for their continuous and valuable feedback, and thank you to Professor Andrew Monaco and Professor Garrett Milam for sparking my interest in behavioral economics and showing me that economics could be fun!
The Stubbornness of Human Socialization: An Analysis of Online Dating and the Permanent Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Dating Market
Abstract
This paper provides a comprehensive comparison of online dating pre-pandemic and mid-pandemic, looking at app features, user demographics and market performance. At the start of the pandemic, the online dating market experienced an unexpected growth rate of 82% due to stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines. To capitalize on this growth, apps have added features that support virtual dating and temporarily lifted subscription fees. The analysis of this paper focuses on the motivators and demotivators for participation and their changing weights as the pandemic is introduced, looking specifically at the efficiency of dating apps and the risk assessment involved in deciding to participate. Notably, the risk of contracting coronavirus is a consideration but not a full deterrent for participation. A study conducted of University of Puget Sound students affirms this phenomenon, and provides context to the decision-making process through participant responses. Predictions are made for the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the dating market and society as a whole, including longer vetting processes to determine whether to meet up and more successful relationships as a result of this effort. Ultimately, although virtual interactions are sufficient substitutes short-term, human socialization is stubborn and physical interactions will return.
