Daniel Ershov, UCL

"Effects of Online Dating Platforms on Marriage and Health Outcomes"

Abstract

This paper explores how the prevalence of online dating platforms has impacted marital outcomes and STD rates in the US. We measure online dating penetration using data from desktop dating sites in 2002 to 2013, and mobile dating apps from 2017 to 2022 for each county. Using county-level variation and an instrumental variable approach, we find that counties with higher desktop and mobile online dating usage subsequently have increased divorce rates. More specifically, a 1% increase in the mean dating session activity results in a 0.41% higher rate of divorce in the same county. Counties with higher app dating usage sort less on race, as evidenced by an increase in the share of interracial marriages. Counties with higher app usage also form more matches where both partners have the same educational attainment. We also find that desktop dating site usage decreases rates of three commonly observed STDs---chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. However, in more recent years, we find that mobile dating app usage increases STD rates relative to desktop dating site usage. We investigate the heterogeneity in these effects, comparing marriage-minded and casual dating apps, as well as apps that target same-sex couples.

(Joint with Jessica Fong and Pinar Yildirim)

Contact person: Anders Munk-Nielsen