Are Match-Making Platforms Based on Big Data Reliable?

Big datas wide reach now includes matchmaking， with a series of apps based on big data currently available. An analysis of individual profi les are said to be able to predict attitudes toward marriage， personality and habits， among other things. These include ones age and zodiac sign， websites visited， favorite movies， along with other online traces. Many believe that match-making can thus be made more accurate and objective through the sifting of information by dating platforms.

The aim is to provide a suitable potential partner that meets expectations as quickly as possible， saving the time spent in talking and making choices. Big data makes it possible for two people to be presented to each other in such a way that the two can easily decide if they are a possible match. If they actually meet， the chances of getting along are greater.

However， not everyone thinks this kind of match-making is acceptable. After all， human beings have feelings and emotions and are not simply products. Some are worried that peoples privacy may be compromised since they have to expose their personal information to dating platforms that are available to strangers to see and analyze.

Follow your own heart

Liu Sunheng （Beijing Youth Daily）： In ancient China， marriage was based on family background checks of individuals for social and economic status. This was not totally groundless， but the family background was so excessively stressed that young peoples personal affection was sacrificed. Big data-based match-making focuses on individuals personal interests， values and habits. Marriages arrived at in this way may be more acceptable to both sides.

Big data helps people to locate their lifelong partners as quickly as possible， a merit of high technology. However， no matter how accurate it is， the process is somewhat like solving a mathematics problem. Affection and love are usually accidental and subjective； there is no logical reasoning behind why you love this one， but not that one. At its current level at least， science has not fi gured it out yet.

We hope that big data-based matchmaking will help more people fi nd their true love， but we cannot totally rely on it. After all， only individuals themselves can decide whether they have found the right person， not big data.

Yi Guoxiang （Yanzhao Metropolis Daily）： Looking for a lifelong partner is different from selecting products using big data. To fi nd true love， communication in real life is a must.

Young people have the quickest access to knowledge and information， but they are also the busiest. When enjoying the convenience of technology， however， many people may not realize that big data can be inaccurate， which could lead to many problems. Peoples feelings and temperaments cannot be quantified. Love needs to be cultivated through long-term communication and sincerity. In the process of match-making， interaction is indispensable.

The charm of a romantic relationship lies in the fact that it changes the seemingly impossible relationship into reality， and this process is supposed to strengthen a couples emotional bond. In the case of big data-based match-making， the process of interaction seems to be shortened or even scrapped， contrary to the natural process of falling in love.

How long can a relationship decided by big data really last？ Despite its convenience， big data may risk depriving people of the fun of looking for true love and other wonderful things in life. In addition， collecting and using big data may infringe on peoples privacy.

Hu Xinhong （Thepaper.cn）： The shortcomings of big data-based match-making are obvious. In an era of frequent personal information abuse， its risky to expose individuals data on dating platforms.

Inaccurate data may lead to many problems. Even if the data is real， temperaments， emotions， values and other internal features cannot be measured through big data research. Over-dependence on big data may eventually result in people missing their Mr. or Ms. Right. Love is hard to defi ne； it is not decided by dopamine， hormones or peoples looks or income. Love grows and intensifi es in the process of getting to know and understand each other. Big data-based match-making seems to decide on a romantic relationship even before the two people have actually met.

To some extent， it is similar to the outdated practice of arranging marriage for those “wellmatched in social and economic status.” The only difference is that， in the past， family backgrounds on both sides were the focus， while now big data match-making has added more factors into the old structure.

Big data-based marriage is actually a double-edged sword. Although it helps save time and increase the chances of successful match-making， users themselves must maintain the ability to think independently. The results collected by big data can only be used as a reference. Finally they need to follow their own heart.

A useful tool

Yao Lu （China Youth Daily）： Men are more active than women on big data dating platforms. After quickly selecting women who meet their criteria online， men will contact these women immediately. Women are more cautious， being more self-protected. Those women who do attempt to seek partners though big data apps tend to be in a good state of mind. Even if they do not succeed， they will not feel dishonored.

Since the big data algorithm can quantify many individual factors and make them clear and easy to see， the chances of selecting ones Mr. or Ms. Right are greater.

It is important that big data matchmaking platforms stick to corporate ethics， including protecting users data and privacy. If they behave well， these platforms can be permitted to collect more data with the consent of the users， so that they can provide better services.

Li Xingguo （Beijing Morning Post）： The emergence of every new item has a certain reason behind it. It is usually a result of social development or of a certain need. Unlike love that develops naturally， big data-based match-making is a tool with clear objectives.

Of course， marriage based on love is the most ethical relationship. However， many factors other than love can affect peoples choice in marriage. In the past， marriages were determined by social and economic status. Nowadays， in most cases， material conditions play a decisive role. Only when economic conditions pose no obstacles can two peoples love be really based on shared interest or values. Therefore， marriage often is not purely an emotional attachment. It is the combined result of emotional and material factors.

What is the impact of big data on marriage and romantic relationships？ In real life， individuals do not always know exactly what they like or want. Big data can at least help people rationally consider and seek the targeted persons.

However， it does not mean that you can rely entirely on big data. Human beings are emotional and romantic relationships or marriage also have emotional factors. We are not encouraging marriages purely based on logical reasoning and analyses. Two people who share the same economic and social status， hobbies and lifestyle may have no chemistry between them， as big data has shown.

Big data analyses are a useful tool， though people should not rely on it entirely when looking for their love.