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How dating sites automate sexual racism — Harvard Gazette

Harvard Gazette
Summary
Nutrition label

74% Informative

Apryl Williams is a Black sociologist who studies race, gender, and popular culture.

Dating sites use algorithms that attempt to predict attraction and attractiveness, and the sorting and ranking is often racially informed.

By matching users with others who look like them, dating platforms both reflect and reinforce racial stereotypes.

“These systems do often fail us, and it’s important to talk about those failures, but it’s also important to celebrate work and community that many find in dating culture,” she said. “And sometimes you find love on the apps, and that’s why they’re worth fixing. I know people love to hate the apps, but they work.” Williams said she was speaking from both personal and scholarly perspectives, having met her romantic partner on Tinder in 2021 . They are now happily married..

VR Score

76

Informative language

76

Neutral language

38

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

55

Offensive language

possibly offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

medium-lived

Source diversity

1

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no affiliate links