What Happens When Dating Goes Online? Evidence from U.S. Marriage Markets and Health Outcomes
CEPR Discussion Paper No. 21054.
Abstract
This paper studies how online dating platforms affected marital outcomes, assortative matching, and sexually transmitted disease rates in the United States. In the desktop era, a 1% increase in online dating sessions raises divorce rates by 0.50%. In the mobile era, a 1% increase in online dating activity lowers marriage and divorce rates by 0.40% and 0.33%, respectively. Across both eras, we find no evidence that greater online dating usage increases average STD rates; average effects are negative or statistically insignificant, although they are positive for some subpopulations. We develop a search and matching model in which technological changes affect search costs, market size, and market noise.
Main Finding
The effects of online dating differ sharply by era: desktop activity increases divorce, while mobile activity lowers marriage and divorce rates; average STD effects are negative or statistically insignificant.
Policy Relevance
Digital matching technologies can change family formation and health outcomes through search costs, market size, and market noise.
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