eHarmony

File:EHarmonyLogo.png

File:Eharmony new logo.jpg

eharmony was founded by Neil Clark Warren, a clinical psychologist, with his son-in-law, Greg Forgatch.{{cite web | title=eharmony's new inclusive ads are enraging some on the right | website=NBC News | date=February 10, 2021 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/eharmony-s-new-inclusive-ads-are-enraging-some-right-n1257175 | access-date=December 4, 2021}}{{cite news|last1=Utermohlen|first1=Karl|title=eharmony Founder Neil Clark Warren Steps Down as CEO|url=https://investorplace.com/2016/07/eharmony-neil-clark-warren/#.Wk1KgFWnGUk|access-date=January 3, 2018|work=InvestorPlace|date=July 26, 2016}} Warren and Forgatch created Neil Clark Warren & Associates, a seminar company, in 1995. The company eventually became the dating website eharmony. During its initial four years, the website was developed by TechEmpower.{{Cite web|title=TechEmpower|url=https://www.techempower.com/portfolio.html|website=www.techempower.com|access-date=June 1, 2020}}

The service was financed with a $3 million investment from Fayez Sarofim & Co. and individual investors.{{cite web |date=September 16, 2008 |url=http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/history/eharmonyhistory.html |title=History of eharmony |publisher=Online Dating Magazine}} eharmony was launched in 2000, making it the first algorithm-based dating site.{{cite web|author1=Eli J. Finkel, Susan Sprecher|title=The Scientific Flaws of Online Dating Sites|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientific-flaws-online-dating-sites/|website=Scientific American|access-date=January 8, 2018|date=May 8, 2012}} Between 2000 and 2010, about 33 million members used the service.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/business/media/16eharmony.html|title=Dating Site Marks 10 Years With Ad Campaign|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 15, 2010 |access-date=November 1, 2013|last1=Vega |first1=Tanzina | author-link=Tanzina Vega }} {{as of|2008}}, about 15,000 people were taking the eharmony questionnaire each day.{{cite news|last=Kirkpatrick |first=David |url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/09/14/magazines/fortune/fastforward_eharmony.fortune/index.htm |title=eHarmony does what tech ought to do |date=September 14, 2007 |access-date=April 3, 2010 | work=CNN}} Harris Interactive said in 2010 that after finding a match on eharmony, an average of 542 eharmony members in the United States marry every day.{{cite web|url=http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4324601/eharmony-celebrates-10-years-of-online-relationships-/ |title=eHarmony Celebrates 10 Years of Online Relationships | Fox Business Video |publisher=Video.foxbusiness.com |date=August 30, 2010 |access-date=November 1, 2013}}

eharmony has been profitable since 2004.{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Andrew|title=Dating site eharmony aims to dominate British market|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/aug/24/eharmony-dating-british-ambition|access-date=January 5, 2018|work=The Guardian|date=August 24, 2010}} In 2009, eharmony's cumulative revenue exceeded $1.0 billion while their annual revenue was about $250 million.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2010/07/12/the-100m-revenue-club-eharmony-captures-hearts-of-vcs/ |title=The $100M Revenue Club: EHarmony Captures the Hearts of VCs |publisher=The Wall Street Journal's Venture Capital Dispatch |date=July 12, 2010 | first=Tomio | last=Geron}} {{as of|2012}}, eharmony had 14 percent of the U.S. dating-services market.{{cite web |url=http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20121209/BUSINESS08/312090017/eharmony-founder-breaks-up-investors-company-reboot?nclick_check=1 |title=eHarmony founder breaks up with investors in company reboot |publisher=Delawareonline.com |access-date=November 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104021206/http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20121209/BUSINESS08/312090017/eHarmony-founder-breaks-up-investors-company-reboot?nclick_check=1 |archive-date=November 4, 2013 }}

In July 2012, Neil Clark Warren came out of retirement to become chief executive officer. Warren closed unprofitable international operations, switched advertisers, made changes to the board,{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-eharmony-20121214,0,496523.story |title=EHarmony founder has his heart set on reviving the dating site |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=November 1, 2013}} and bought back stock from Sequoia Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures. eharmony featured in the 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, where the namesake protagonist speaks to a personal counselor at the company.{{Cite web|date=December 11, 2013|title=EHarmony Launches Service Modeled After 'Walter Mitty' Plotline|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/secret-life-walter-mitty-eharmony-664616|url-status=live|access-date=March 21, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215074352/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com:80/news/secret-life-walter-mitty-eharmony-664616 |archive-date=December 15, 2013 }} In 2017, it was reported that eharmony had about 750,000 paid subscribers and 10 million active users, which was about the same as it had been in 2012.{{cite web|last1=Weller|first1=Chris|title=eHarmony is gearing up for a battle to win back millennials from Tinder and Bumble|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/eharmony-win-back-millennials-2017-2|website=Business Insider|access-date=January 5, 2018|date=February 18, 2017}} Warren left the company again in July 2016.

In 2016, eharmony announced their questionnaire would now be optional for users.{{cite web|last1=Crook|first1=Jordan|title=eHarmony makes its questionnaire optional to get hip with the times|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/15/eharmony-makes-its-questionnaire-optional-to-get-hip-with-the-times/|website=TechCrunch|access-date=January 3, 2018|date=December 15, 2016}} By 2017, the questionnaire consisted of 150 questions, down from 450 questions.{{cite web|last1=Marinova|first1=Polina|title=How Dating Site eHarmony Uses Machine Learning to Help You Find Love|url=http://fortune.com/2017/02/14/eharmony-dating-machine-learning/|access-date=January 3, 2018|date=February 14, 2017}}

In 2018, German mass media company ProSiebenSat.1 Media purchased eharmony via their Nucom ecommerce division (a joint venture of ProSiebenSat and private equity firm General Atlantic).{{Cite news|title = Germany's ProSieben buys U.S. online dating site eharmony|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eharmony-m-a-prosieben-media/germanys-prosieben-buys-us-online-dating-site-eharmony-idUSKCN1N30Y6|work = Reuters Business News|access-date = April 29, 2019|date=October 29, 2018}}

In 2020, the parent company ParshipMeet Group was formed to manage eharmony, Parship and The Meet Group, after the acquisition of The Meet Group by ProSiebenSat.1 Media.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-05/prosiebensat-1-struggles-with-turnaround-amid-tough-tv-ad-market |title=ProSieben to Buy Dating Firm Meet Group in Tough TV Market | first=Stefan | last=Nicola | work=Bloomberg News | date=March 5, 2020}}{{Cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200904005336/en/Meet-Group-Announces-Closing-Acquisition-eharmony-Parent |title=The Meet Group Announces Closing of Acquisition by eharmony Parent Company Parship Group | agency=Business Wire |date=September 4, 2020}}

Prospective members complete a proprietary questionnaire about their characteristics, beliefs, values, emotional health and skills. Matching algorithms, which the company believes match people's core traits and values to replicate the traits of happy couples, use these answers to match members with users the company believes will be compatible.{{cite news |author=Georgina Prodhan |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE4967YO20081007 |title=Brits value sex and in-laws, Web dating company finds |publisher=Reuters |date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=May 4, 2010}} The software technology also evaluates users' behavioral data such as average time spent on the site.{{cite news|author=Jessica Shambora |url=http://fortune.com/2010/09/23/eharmonys-algorithm-of-love/ |title=eHarmony's algorithm of love |work=Fortune |date=September 23, 2010|access-date=February 5, 2011}}

Buckwalter says that the compatibility system rests a lot on commonality, for their belief is that "Opposites attract, then they attack."{{cite web |last=Canning |first=Andrea |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4280987&page=1 |title=A Look Inside the eHarmony Love Lab |work=ABC News |date=February 13, 2008 |access-date=November 1, 2013}}

Starting in January 2017, eharmony users could see why they are considered compatible with a feature called "The Two Of You Together". They will be able to see the matches who score at an advanced level of compatibility and also why.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlinepersonalswatch.com/news/2016/12/eharmonys-new-ceo-grant-langston-shares-his-new-vision.html |title=eHarmony's New CEO Grant Langston Shares His New Vision |publisher=OnlinePersonalsWatch.com |date=December 23, 2016 |access-date=December 26, 2016}}

It is estimated that about 20% of eharmony applicants are rejected.{{cite web|last1=Miller|first1=Lisa|title=Belief Watch: eHarmony's Algorithm for Mr. Right|url=http://www.newsweek.com/belief-watch-eharmonys-algorithm-mr-right-86273|website=Newsweek|access-date=January 8, 2018|date=April 26, 2008}} In 2007, eharmony stated since the site's launch, they had rejected about a million people who applied to use the service. They reported that about 30% of those applicants were denied because they were already married, 27% were younger than the minimum application age of 21, and 9% provided inconsistent answers on the application. eharmony also stated they reject anyone under the age of 60 who has been married more than four times, or who fails their "dysthymia scale", testing as having a depressed disposition.{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Farhi |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201350.html?hpid=topnews |title=They Met Online, but Definitely Didn't Click |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 13, 2007 |pages=D01 |access-date=May 13, 2007}}

When it began, eharmony did not offer same-sex matches; however from 2009 through 2019 the company provided service through a separate platform, Compatible Partners.Kornblum, Janet. "[https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-05-18-eharmony_x.htm eHarmony: Heart and soul]", USA Today, May 18, 2005 Warren said that he had done extensive research on heterosexual marriage but did not know enough about homosexual relationships to do same-sex match-making, which he said "calls for some very careful thinking. Very careful research." He also said that eharmony promotes heterosexual marriage, adding that (at the time) same-sex marriage was illegal in most places, saying "We don't really want to participate in something that's illegal." In another interview, Warren went into more detail on his own views, noting that "cities like San Francisco, Chicago or New York... they could shut [eharmony] down so fast. We don't want to make enemies out of them. But at the same time, I take a real strong stand against same-sex marriage, anywhere that I can comment on it."{{cite web|url=http://www.family.org/married/youngcouples/a0021741.cfm|title=Interview with Neil Clark Warren|publisher=Focus on the Family|access-date=March 3, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040225142236/http://www.family.org/married/youngcouples/a0021741.cfm|archive-date=February 25, 2004}}

eharmony's lack of same-sex matching options prompted lawsuits claiming that eHarmony violated laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Egelko |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/01/BAGNSQ63EQ6.DTL |title=EHarmony sued for excluding same-sex matches |publisher=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=June 1, 2007}} As part of the settlement of a New Jersey case,Miller, Joshua Rhett. [https://www.foxnews.com/story/eharmony-to-provide-gay-dating-service-after-lawsuit "eharmony to Provide Gay Dating Service after Lawsuit"], Fox News, November 20, 2008 eharmony launched a partner website called Compatible Partners providing match-making "for men and women looking for a serious same-sex relationship".{{Cite web|title = How to surf the Web for a mate: eharmony founder |url = https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/08/how-to-surf-the-web-for-a-mate-eharmony-founder.html|website = CNBC|date = May 9, 2015|access-date = September 17, 2015}} Theodore B. Olson, an attorney for eharmony, said that even though the company believed the complaint was "an unfair characterization of our business", it chose to settle because of the unpredictable nature of litigation.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27821393 |title=eharmony agrees to provide same-sex matches |work=NBC News |date=November 20, 2008 |access-date=November 1, 2013}} In 2010, eHarmony settled a separate class-action lawsuit filed in California that alleged illegal discrimination based on sexual orientation. The company agreed to allow access to both its gay and straight dating sites with a single subscription, to display its gay dating services more prominently and to establish a settlement fund to pay people who can show they were harmed by the company's policies.{{cite news|author=Rachel Gordon |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/EHarmony-settles-lawsuit-over-gay-matchmaking-3274826.php |title=EHarmony settles lawsuit over gay matchmaking |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date= January 27, 2010|access-date=September 3, 2010}}{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eharmony-settles-gay-discrimination-suit/ |title=eHarmony Settles Gay Discrimination Suit |work=CBS News |date= January 27, 2010|access-date=September 3, 2010}}

{{as of|2013}}, about 200,000 people had registered with Compatible Partners.{{cite web|last=Garcia |first=Michelle |url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/commentary/2010/03/31/online-dating-game |title=The Online Dating Game |publisher=Advocate.com |date=March 31, 2010 |access-date=November 1, 2013}} Michelle Garcia, writing in the LGBT-interest magazine The Advocate, also said that, like eharmony, Compatible Partners attracts high-quality customers. According to Garcia, "Because of the price tag and the emphasis on long-term relationships... Compatible Partners' users are seen as quite desirable."

In 2021, eharmony released an advertisement that included a same-sex couple, emphasizing the platform's diverse user base.{{cite web |last1=Avery |first1=Dan |title=eHarmony's new inclusive ads are enraging some on the right |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/eharmony-s-new-inclusive-ads-are-enraging-some-right-n1257175 |website=NBC News |access-date=26 October 2023 |language=en |date=10 February 2021}} Certain conservative groups expressed criticism that the platform deviated from its Christian roots.{{cite web |title=eHarmony Receives Applause and Backlash for More Inclusive Ad Campaign - Dating Sites Reviews |url=https://www.datingsitesreviews.com/article.php?story=eharmony-receives-applause-and-backlash-for-more-inclusive-ad-campaign |website=www.datingsitesreviews.com |access-date=26 October 2023}}

After approval by the questionnaire, eharmony begins to match members regardless of their subscription status. A member's list of matches does not indicate which members are paying or non-paying, so users may not be able to communicate with all of their matches.[http://www.blacktable.com/keller040811.htm eHarmony? More like tone deaf] 08.11.04 Joel Keller blacktable.com

A 2010 article published by the Harvard Business Review attributed the success of eharmony's system to their large membership base, their efforts to exclude people who are not serious about dating, and their membership fees being more expensive than the fees for other dating websites. The author hypothesizes that, since eharmony's questionnaire and high cost of membership deter people who are interested in casual dating, eharmony's members are more likely to be interested in a long-term relationship.{{cite journal|last1=Halaburda|first1=Hanna|title=Fewer Customers, but the Right Ones|url=https://hbr.org/2010/10/fewer-customers-but-the-right|journal=Harvard Business Review|access-date=January 8, 2018|date=October 15, 2010}}

A 2012 analysis of dating websites by Scientific American stated that eharmony, along with other algorithm-based dating sites, had not yet provided members of the scientific community with information about their matching algorithm which could be used to vet their claims about their algorithms being scientifically based.

In 2014, eharmony was criticized by the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau over claims the company had made about their rates of success. This occurred after Match.com challenged claims made by eharmony about the two companies' relative success.{{cite news|last1=Gelles|first1=Jeff|title=Dating site dinged for exaggerating claims of success|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/business/consumer_news/20140817_Dating_site_dinged_for_exaggerating_claims_of_success.html|access-date=January 3, 2018|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=August 17, 2014}}

In 2018, the Advertising Standards Authority stated that an eharmony ad which included the lines, "It's time science had a go at love", and "Imagine being able to stack the odds of finding lasting love entirely in your favor", was misleading. When the ASA asked for evidence supporting eharmony's claims that their scientifically proven matching system increases the odds of finding love, eharmony was not able to provide any.{{cite news|last1=Wakefield|first1=Jane|title=Dating website eHarmony's 'scientific' match ad banned|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42546586|access-date=January 4, 2018|work=BBC News|date=January 3, 2018}} The ASA subsequently banned advertisements that claimed the use of a scientifically proven matching system. eharmony publicly disagreed with the ASA but said it would work with them to clarify its advertising.Siddique, Haroon. (January 3, 2018). "[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/03/watchdog-bans-adverts-claim-eharmony-is-scientifically-proven Watchdog bans advert's claim eHarmony is 'scientifically proven']", The Guardian, Guardian Media Group, London, UK. Retrieved February 8, 2019.

In September 2023, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched court action against eharmony over allegations of misleading content and hundreds of customer complaints about the company's auto-subscription practices. Customers who have signed up to the service have had their accounts debited without their consent as part of a default auto-renewable subscription that is difficult to cancel. The ACCC referred to this as a "subscription trap" that it alleges has been in place since at least 2019.{{cite web|title=ACCC court action against eHarmony for alleged misleading online dating membership statements|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-court-action-against-eharmony-for-alleged-misleading-online-dating-membership-statements|website=Australian Competition & Consumer Commission|date=September 7, 2023|access-date=December 2, 2023}}[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-07/eharmony-sued-by-accc-in-federal-court/102825988 Dating site eHarmony sued over alleged subscription trap and other 'misleading' statements] ABC News September 7, 2023

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• {{Official website|http://www.eharmony.com/}}

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