A new BBC Horizon show is offering an interesting look inside the matching algorithms used by modern online dating sites to pair up compatible users.
The episode – which aired last night on BBC Two – documents Dr Xand van Tulleken and mathematician Hannah Fry’s investigation into the science used by popular sites and apps, and whether this intelligence is actually a reliable way of meeting genuine romantic partners.
Speaking to a number of professionals already studying the science of attraction in online dating, Dr van Tulleken learns how to create a profile that is mathematically guaranteed to get him noticed on dating platforms, whilst Fry uses her own expertise to build her own dating site.
During the programme, he also meets Match.com consultant, Dr Helen Fisher who helps him trial an MRI scan that can be used to detect whether there is a real spark between him and another person – comparing his results to that of his married brother.
The show also hosts a number of mini experiments involving members of the public, which sees Dr van Tulleken go on various dates to examine whether the mathematical algorithms fashioned by platforms like Tinder, are more accurate than a process of random selection.
You call watch the full episode here.