The Strength of Absent Ties: Social Integration via Online Dating

TL;DR

This paper examines how online dating creates new social ties that enhance societal diversity and integration, showing rapid progress in interracial marriage rates linked to increased broadband adoption.

Contribution

It demonstrates that online dating fosters previously absent social ties, significantly promoting social integration and diversity in modern societies.

Findings

Online dating correlates with increased interracial marriages.

Social integration accelerates with higher broadband adoption.

The process of societal diversification is ongoing and significant.

Abstract

We used to marry people to whom we were somehow connected. Since we were more connected to people similar to us, we were also likely to marry someone from our own race. However, online dating has changed this pattern; people who meet online tend to be complete strangers. We investigate the effects of those previously absent ties on the diversity of modern societies. We find that social integration occurs rapidly when a society benefits from new connections. Our analysis of state-level data on interracial marriage and broadband adoption (proxy for online dating) suggests that this integration process is significant and ongoing.