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).
The Chinese government brought the sitcom "Friends" back to its streaming services. However, it had instances of LGBTQ+ references left out, after the series had been banned on Chinese streaming platforms for years.
Season 13 "Shark Tank" contestant Tania Speaks secured a $400,000 deal for her Speaks Organic Skincare brand with "Shark" Mark Cuban while also being named one of the best pitches in the history of the show — all at 19 years old. Now 20, Speaks joined Cheddar News to talk about the skincare line, the clean beauty industry, and the moment that host Cuban was moved by her pitch. "I couldn't believe that he got emotional. I'm surprised I held back my tears that long," the young entrepreneur revealed. "It's just amazing for someone else to be inspired by your story, especially Mark Cuban himself."
The media giant formerly known as ViacomCBS has officially rebranded itself as Paramount Global with a focus on its streaming service, Paramount Plus. Naveen Chopra, chief financial officer at Paramount, joined Cheddar to discuss the company’s name change and streaming wars. "There are components of content licensing that we continue to do, either historical arrangements or opportunities to license content that don't really impinge on what we're trying to do with our owned and operated services and that continues to be an important ingredient in our broader financial model," he said. "But our number one priority is putting our best assets on Paramount Plus." Chopra also discussed theatrical release windows before feature films hit its service and the platform's subscription goals.
In efforts to help support black-owned brands. Ulta Beauty says it will make a commitment to not only give these brand shelf space but also help them navigate the ins and outs of growing a business. Last week, the beauty retailer announced in order to reach those goals, the company will spend $50 million on diversity and inclusion programs, including an accelerated program to mentor entrepreneurs of color. CEO of Ulta Beauty, Dave Kimbell, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
