3 ms·

I can see the concern, but I'd place it way down the list of things that could make the wealth gap worse. Debutante balls and other such classist dating practi

I can see the concern, but I'd place it way down the list of things that could make the wealth gap worse. Debutante balls and other such classist dating practice have been around basically forever. I don't think digitizing them adds a particular new dimension of concern.

baud147258 9y ago
Came here to say that. I don't think it will worsen the current gap, dating has mostly been done among one's peer group, so using an app won't change anything.
- nkrisc 9y ago
  This app is the manifestation of the social norms that already exist, not a catalyst for new norms.
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    The app can increase the degree to which the existing norms are realized rather than aspirational; to the extent that individual acheivement of the goals of the existing norm has adverse social consequences, that is rightfully a source of concern even if it involves nothing personally blameworthy and no change of norms.
- Aunche 9y ago
  I agree. If anything, regular dating apps like Tinder are decreasing the wealth gap.
hackermailman 9y ago
Agree, dating for the most part happens within social circles, so being super wealthy means you get introduced to other super wealthy potential partners on a regular basis through your network of friends at whatever yacht club, private school, nightclub VIP, ect. Almost every girl I've dated was because I went to a party, camping trip, dinner, beach or bar somewhere and a friend of a friend brought a single friend and introduced us. Online dating is just a way to expand search from your local social network.
Al-Khwarizmi 9y ago
Actually, it has been claimed that online dating has made marriages more diverse: https://lifehacker.com/how-online-dating-is-making-u-s-marriages-stronger-and-1820511844 https://lifehacker.com/how-online-dating-is-making-u-s-marri... So perhaps the effect of this will be a return (total or partial) to how things always were.

baud147258 9y ago

Came here to say that. I don't think it will worsen the current gap, dating has mostly been done among one's peer group, so using an app won't change anything.

nkrisc 9y ago
This app is the manifestation of the social norms that already exist, not a catalyst for new norms.
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  The app can increase the degree to which the existing norms are realized rather than aspirational; to the extent that individual acheivement of the goals of the existing norm has adverse social consequences, that is rightfully a source of concern even if it involves nothing personally blameworthy and no change of norms.
Aunche 9y ago
I agree. If anything, regular dating apps like Tinder are decreasing the wealth gap.

hackermailman 9y ago

Agree, dating for the most part happens within social circles, so being super wealthy means you get introduced to other super wealthy potential partners on a regular basis through your network of friends at whatever yacht club, private school, nightclub VIP, ect. Almost every girl I've dated was because I went to a party, camping trip, dinner, beach or bar somewhere and a friend of a friend brought a single friend and introduced us. Online dating is just a way to expand search from your local social network.

Al-Khwarizmi 9y ago

Actually, it has been claimed that online dating has made marriages more diverse: https://lifehacker.com/how-online-dating-is-making-u-s-marriages-stronger-and-1820511844 https://lifehacker.com/how-online-dating-is-making-u-s-marri... So perhaps the effect of this will be a return (total or partial) to how things always were.