Algorithms over introductions: online dating reshapes how Americans meet

A Stanford-led study of the How Couples Meet and Stay Together data finds online dating has moved from the fringe to the center in the U.S.: about 39% of heterosexual couples met online in 2017 (up from 22% in 2009), with the crossover around 2013; same‑sex couples reached online meetings earlier (roughly 65% by 2017). Traditional intermediaries—family, friends, and church—have declined since the mid‑20th century, while platforms offer access to vastly larger pools. The shift raises questions about how meeting method relates to relationship quality, noting that platforms don’t have a stake in outcomes even as they disintermediate personal introductions.