Identifying design opportunities for relationship building algorithms in online dating services

Abstract

With the increasing popularity of online dating systems, recommendation algorithms are now increasingly influential in finding a romantic partner. Drawing on our interviews, we explore the impacts of online dating algorithms on user emotions, perceptions and behaviors. Our analysis reveals the system pose negative emotional impacts, and induce behaviors far from relationship building. We conducted user participatory design workshops to identify the causes of the influences and derive design opportunities for a relationship building online dating experience. Through our analysis, we were able to derive four design implications desired by our participants. We conclude with a discussion for redesigning the current algorithmic online dating ecosystem. We suggest an algorithm system that support user sense of agencies, consideration in psychological safety, adjusting the transparency of the system, and balancing the conflicting goals between diverse stakeholders of the online dating services.