This incredible graph shows exactly how the world of dating and relationships has changed over the past 70 years.
Posted on Twitter, the chart also shows just how remarkable online dating’s rise over the past 15 years has been.
The graph was posted by Paul Kirby, a visiting professor from the London School of Economics, who accompanied the image with a message saying: “A remarkable sociology of the last 70 years in one chart. Each line tells a big story.”
The data comes from a 2012 paper by Michael J. Rosenfeld from Stanford University & Reuben J. Thomas from The City College of New York, called “Searching for a Mate: The Rise of the Internet as a Social Intermediary.”
Check out the amazing graph below:
A remarkable sociology of the last 70 years in one chart. Each line tells a big story.
HT @petrmisan pic.twitter.com/r4tjTb665e– Paul Kirby (@paul1kirby) February 15, 2016
In a reply to Kirby’s tweet, another Twitter user posted an equally fascinating chart based on the same 2012 paper, showing the plot for same-sex couples, which the user Christina Bergey says is “even more striking”.
Both show how incredibly changed the landscape for relationships and dating is compared to even 20/30 years ago, and how quickly online dating has become one of the main ways people meet new romantic partners.
It’s also interesting that while online dating is seeing a sharp increase, all the other ways of meeting – aside from “at a bar/restaurant” – are on a downward trajectory.
@paul1kirby@petrmisan The plot for same-sex couples is even more striking. (Rosenfeld & Thomas 2012). pic.twitter.com/oAcKjHAUbH
– Christina Bergey (@bergeycm) February 16, 2016
You can read the full study, Searching for a Mate: The Rise of the Internet as a Social Intermediary, here.