OKCupid Teaches Its Members How Not To Be Ugly: Further Investigation

When last we talked, we reviewed the findings of OKCupid's photo experiment called "Don't Be Ugly By Accident." We laughed, we cried, we were told that iPhone users supposedly have more sex than people who use phones of other brands.

But now it's time to examine the study with a more critical eye, to figure out what the data actually means. Do the results really have practical uses, or is OKCupid just telling us that we all need makeovers?

The first conclusion the experts at OKCupid draw is that the "type and brand of camera you use has a huge effect on how good you look in your pictures." In general, they found that more complex cameras, such as those that have interchangeable lenses, took better photos than simple point-and-shoot cameras. Camera phones took the photos that were deemed the worst.

Analysis: If you're like me, you read that and thought "Did we really need a study to tell us that? Isn't that obvious? Of course a better, more expensive camera is going to take superior pictures!" But astute readers will notice that, while the quality of the camera will almost always affect the quality of the pictures it takes, that's not the whole story. High quality cameras, like the Panasonic Micro 3/4s mentioned in the article, are most likely owned by professionals (or, at the very least, people who have studied and have a strong interest in photography), so it should come as no surprise that the photos taken by them are usually considered better than other pictures.

I have already mentioned the article's next, and most striking, conclusion: that iPhone users have more sex than other people. But is that really true?

Analysis: iPhone users might have more active sex lives than other mobile phone users, but OKCupid's study doesn't prove it. The graphs included in the article measure the average number of sexual partners users of iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry devices have had by age thirty - but "a high number of sexual partners" is not the same thing as "having more sex."

The study's third finding, that using a flash ages the picture's subject, can probably be filed away under "O" for "Obvious." It shouldn't surprise anyone that people look younger under lower, more forgiving light that hides wrinkles and blemishes, and older under harsh, direct light.

The last two results of OKCupid's study are "that the best pictures have a very shallow depth of field," and "there are peak times of day to take a good picture." The article even includes of couple of graphs, examples, and an image from Wikipedia to prove the point.

Analysis: Both things are very likely true, but once again, we have to consider who is taking the pictures. In most cases, the people who understand the technical details and terms of photography, like depth of field, aperture, and how to use natural lighting to the greatest effect, are professionals and photography enthusiasts. It is common sense that pictures taken by experts will turn out better than other photos.

Overall, while the experiment leads to a few interesting observations, most should be taken with a grain of salt or two, and the study's most useful advice can be found at the end of the article: "In conclusion, the data strongly suggest that if you're single, you (or someone you know) should learn a little bit about photography. Technique can make or break your photograph, and the right decisions can get you more dates."

To find out more about this free dating site, read our review of OkCupid.