Slashdot Mirror


Dating Website eHarmony's Ad Banned For Claiming Service Is 'Scientifically Proven' (bbc.com)

A dating website's claim that it used a "scientifically proven matching system" to pair up those looking for love, has been banned. From a report: An advert for eHarmony on the London Underground in July read: "It's time science had a go at love." The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) called the claim "misleading." The online matchmaker said while it "respectfully disagrees" with the ruling, it will make its advertising "as clear as possible." The website was unable to offer the ASA any evidence that customers had a greater chance of finding love, despite claiming that its "scientifically proven matching system decodes the mystery of compatibility and chemistry." "Imagine being able to stack the odds of finding lasting love entirely in your favour," the advert read.

5 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Re:first by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 4, Funny

    And others have the situation firmly in hands.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  2. Re:Mere puffery by stephanruby · · Score: 4, Funny

    The claims are so over the top that it would be expected no reasonable person would believe they actually had scientists applying scientific methods to the match-making algorithm. This should have been a clear and obvious case of mere puffery.

    It didn't need to be.

    eHarmony could have said. At eHarmony, we apply the scientific method. By paying for this service, you accept the possibility that you may be part of our double-blind control group, where we assign candidates semi-randomly. By semi-randomly, we mean we'll still try to find someone who fulfills your most basic criteria and who lives near your area, but some of those criteria will be chosen by a random algorithm instead of using our match-making algorithms. This is so that we're able to improve the success rate of our match-making algorithms over time.

  3. Re:first by nitehawk214 · · Score: 3, Funny

    What is science? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more.

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  4. AI Dating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Should have called it AI dating, with blockchained dating histories. Stock prices would have quadrupled at least.

  5. Re:Nope, I've tried it by gnick · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...if someone isn't married by 30, they are defective goods and single for a reason.

    I must be double-plus special! I'm only 40 and I've already completed 2 entire marriages!

    --
    He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.