What It Shows
This infographic is a collection of statistics and information about the current online dating industry: who takes part, how many, and what they do.
Why It’s Good
Unlike some other Online Schools infographics, there are lots of fun and different statistics that really cover the important angles. If you knew nothing about the online dating industry before looking at this infographic, you would be fairly caught up by the end. In most cases, the visual elements aren’t really necessary to convey the information, but the designer did a good job of using them to add a but of life and fun to the article.
And if you’re wondering about the ten bears at the bottom of the infographic, they are a reference to the relatively well-known internet meme of the pedobear, used to indicate an instance and figure of underage exploitation.
What It’s Missing
First off, I am doubtful that online dating is bigger than online porn, as the infographic suggests. The sources reference a Computer World article that lists the top 3 online content industries as the following:
Top Online Paid Content Sites in 2008 by Category ($ in millions)
Digital music $1,732
Video games $1,866
Dating $957
While online adult revenue estimates are often inflated, the article references a Forrester Research survey from 2008. A Forbes article indicates that a similar Forrester study from 1998 pegged the figure at “$750 million to $1 billion in annual revenue.” The industry has clearly expanded considerably since then, so I think that the Computer World writer has botched his data, and the infographic is consequently incorrect. It’s a shame, because it would otherwise be the most interesting stat in the mix.
Like I said, I don’t think these kinds of stats really needed an infographic, and while they do make things a bit more fun, I think I’m going to try to take a but of a break from the “slightly visually supported stats collection” infographics.
This infographic is found at here.
