OkCupid Doesn't Mind Bringing Politics Into Dating
*By Carlo Versano*
The old norms of social etiquette ー don't discuss politics or hot-button issues at the dinner table ー may be a thing of the past. And online dating site OKCupid is, in fact, putting those topics front and center.
About a year ago, when allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men began circulating in the news almost daily, executives had what might seem like a novel idea. They added a new question to the company's membership survey: "Would you date someone who did not support the #MeToo movement?"
According to the company's chief marketing officer Melissa Hobley, nearly 80 percent of female respondents said lack of support was a "deal breaker." About 50 percent of men agreed.
The question is part of a long list OKCupid uses to distinguish itself from online dating services like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, designed to help users find better, more accurate matches. The questions range from the innocuous ("Do you generally smile at little kids who cross your path?"), to the silly ("What superpower would you like to have?"), to the substantive ("Are you happy with your life?").
The questionnaire is optional, but about half a million daters voluntarily chose to address #MeToo, and 37 percent said it was an "important" issue, Hobley said.
How much their answers to this specific question affected who they were ultimately matched with ー or whether they contributed to a lasting relationship ー is so far unknown, but the numbers certainly suggest that charged issues in the zeitgeist may affect who we choose to date.
Digging a little deeper is an approach that Hobley said goes "beyond the selfie" ー a bit of a dig at her competitors. Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid are owned by the same parent company, Match Group ($MTCH).
Since 2015, Hobley said OKCupid has seen a [1,000 percent](https://www.popsugar.com/news/Exclusive-OkCupid-Data-Politics-Sex-Dating-Trump-44521368) increase in the use of political buzzwords in people's profiles, seeming to confirm its view that the #MeToo question would resonate with daters.
"We knew it would help connect people," she said. "Your dating app shouldn't be disconnected from what's going on in the world."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/okcupid-adds-question-about-metoo-movement).
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Gardenuity CEO breaks down how gardening can improve your wellbeing; Augmedix CEO discusses how this technology is helping doctors fight burnout; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Suppressed Science.'
Sheila Goffe, VP of Government Relations of the American Kennel Club, joins Cheddar Reveals to discuss the efficacy of police, military, and other working dogs, and how they're trained.
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, Sheila Goffe, VP of Government Relations of the American Kennel Club, discusses the efficacy of police, military, and other working dogs, and how they're trained. Paul Mundell, Executive Director of the American Service Dog Access Coalition, breaks down why emotional support, therapy, and service dogs are important; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Secrets of a Dog's Nose.'
On this episode of ChedHER; Amanda Carlson Phillips, Senior Vice President of Exos' performance team, breaks down how wellness programs can fight burnout; Deena LaMarque Piquion, Chief Marketing Officer at Xerox, explains why and how women should stop saying 'sorry' so often;
Marylyn Harris, President of Harrland Healthcare Consulting, talks about how her experience in the military prepared her for a cybersecurity career, and how she's paving the way for women of color in the industry.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Atom Limbs CEO breaks down how the Atom Touch prosthetic is different from other prosthetics on the market; CEO & Chief Scientific Officer of MyMD explains how the MYMD-1 is on track to be the first FDA-approved drug to treat aging and age-related diseases; A look at Curiosity Stream's 'The Future of Warfare.'
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals Clay Routledge, Professor of Business and author of "Nostalgia: A Psychological Resource", discusses the psychology of nostalgia: why we have it, and why it may be good for our mental health; Patrick Metzger, Writer and Technologist, breaks down how nostalgia has influenced pop culture, why it remains in a trend loop for every generation, and why that trend is likely never going to end; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'The Year That Rocked the World.'
On this episode of ChedHER: CEO of The Lactation Network breaks down how they are expanding access to lactation support for families nationwide; CEO of Vanta explains the importance of a security team for startups; Midwest Divison Area Manager at JPMorgan Chase discusses the perks of having a business mentor.
On this episode of ChedHER we hear from the CEO of Incredible Health on how she's breaking the bias this women's history month, a bestselling author gives us tips on how to create new post-pandemic habits, and we learn just how critical a business consultant can be.
On this episode of 'Cheddar Innovates': Creator of Animal Flow discusses the benefits to this unique type of workout that's rising in popularity; CEO of Vinylly breaks down how the app takes your streaming music data and some personal questions to find your next love match; A look at Curiosity Stream's 'Secrets of the Universe.'
