It takes two to tango: A directed two-mode network approach to desirability on a mobile dating app

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Dr. Renata Topinkova (LMU Munich) and Dr. Tomas Diviak (University of Manchester published a study on online dating dynamics in PLOS ONE. Using digital trace data from a Czech mobile dating app, the study applies a directed two-mode network approach to map desirability and mating behavior in the earliest stages of partner search.

The findings reveal a hierarchical structure in heterosexual online dating markets: women on the platform generally receive more attention than men, and men are more likely to pursue partners who are more desirable than themselves. However, successful “matches” – where interest is reciprocated – tend to occur between users with similar levels of desirability, suggesting that the ultimate pairing patterns emerge not from initial preference for similarity, but from subsequent social processes like rejection.

Topinkova, R., & Diviak, T. (2025). It takes two to tango: A directed two-mode network approach to desirability on a mobile dating app. PLOS One, 20(7), e0327477. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327477