Posted on: 2021/04/16 06:56pm
By: nospam99
I have used the subject sites for about three and a half years and, during that time, participated in 'another dating forum'. Unfortunately (for me), I have been 'muzzled' (can read but can't post) at that site for the last six months. I've come here because I wished to review the dating sites, in particular to note that their functional value has dropped off significantly in the last fourteen months. I think it's worth noting that all three are operated by Match Group. Thus, there may very well be an overall corporate marketing strategy to influence users.
My demographics: healthy, physically active, single white male, 5'8'', 170 lb (for 'body type' reference) 67 y/o. Given my demographics AND that I live in a community in the 'deep suburbs' of NYC (two hour drive), the way I have to 'play the game' is to send lots of OnLine Dating (OLD) messages to women and wait for responses. The unsolicited messages I receive are almost always from 'physically undesirable' women. I had what I'd describe as good success getting responses for about the first year and a half. I assume and believe that my height, age, and location are superficial 'dealbreakers' so, in order to identify the profiles of women who are likely to respond, it would be helpful to know what their search parameters are.
Match: Over the years, Match had been my 'best' OLD site. Up until about fourteen months ago, I could read women's profiles and see what they were filtering on for height, age, and location. I could also see a 'mutual match percentage' which provided at least a relative ranking for how likely it was to get a response. Fourteen months ago the women's filters were no longer displayed. Last month the mutual match percentage was no longer displayed. My response rate has declined from the low 20s to the mid teens.
POF: Up until twelve months ago, POF provided an UltraMatch and a Chemistry tool. Both ranked women's profiles based on how interested they would be expected to be in meeting me, displayed how recently they had logged on, and allowed filtering on age and distance. Those tools are gone. POF, which once was mostly 'free', also has disabled the visibility of the profiles of women viewing my profile.
OKC: OKC has restricted the usability of the site in various ways over the last three years. The most significant restriction, three years ago, was turning off tracking of sent messages unless the recipient responds. There isn't even a way to confirm that the recipient is an active user so that they could have even read the message. It used to be possible to search for profiles with distance, age, and 'match percentage' (based on hundreds of questions that can be answered in the profiles) filters. Those searches are no longer possible. Instead OKC presents lists of profiles characterized as 'recommended just for you' or 'nearby'. The recommended just for you include low match percentages and ages so young that it is doubtful that the women would date a man my age. The nearby include women who live more than an hour away.
Overall, the changes I've noted in the three subject services have greatly decreased their value and I thought it would be helpful for other people, especially 'senior' men, to be aware what to expect.
Re: Match, POF, OKC
Posted on: 2021/08/03 10:24pm
By: Anonymous (JennyRodgers)
Excellent analysis!! Thank you for sharing. I learned a lot for sure. I’m new to the dating sites and need to figure out what to avoid. *hugs*