OkCupid is a free dating and social networking website that features member-created quizzes. The site supports various modes of communication, including personal blogs, public forums, instant messages, emails, and “winks.”
How it works
To generate matches, OkCupid applies data generated by users’ activities on the site, as well as their answers to questions. When answering a question, a user indicates his or her own answer, the answers he or she would accept from partners, and the level of importance he or she places on the question. The results of these questions can be made public. OkCupid describes in detail the algorithm used to calculate match percentages based on answered questions, and has applied for a patent on the process.
Users can search for potential matches based on their match percentage, as well as other features, such as age, religion, and location. Some features are not searchable, such as weight. The site also uses a “Quickmatch” feature, which displays user images and information, but not user names, and contacts a member via email if they were “4 or 5-starred.” The site notifies a user if both parties gave 4 or 5 stars.
OkCupid has added location-based functionality to its Android and iOS mobile apps.Other functionality includes the ability to chat with other people nearby, share photos, and more. If OkCupid finds a good match for you in their database for someone who lives nearby, the app will recommend the potential date. You’ll also be able to browse all your matches nearby.
