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UK Wedding News

13/02/2015

A Good Screen Name 'Is Vital For Online Dating Success'

Having a good screen name can make or break a person's success at online dating, new research has claimed.

The study, which has been carried out by a team from Queen Mary University in London and published in the journal Evidence Based Medicine, carried out a systematic review on changing online contact into a first date. The researchers looked at published data on the art of attraction and persuasion, which included psychology, sociology, and computer, behavioural and neurocognitive science, to discover the most effective methods between men and women when it comes to that first date from an initial online contact.

The study said found that out of almost 4,000 studies, 86 met the inclusion criteria. The findings were then used to draw up a list of 'dos' and 'dont's' when it comes to online dating.

For example, choosing an online profile name is particularly important; as men are said to be more likely to notice names indicating physical attractiveness, such as 'blondie' or 'cutie'. Women on the other hand, are more likely to choose names that signify intelligence, such as 'cultured'.

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Words or monikers that should be avoided however, are 'little' or 'bug'. Instead, something like 'Fun2bwith' was said by researchers to be more universally attractive.

When it comes to a profile photo, a selfie is not always the best choice, with online dating users encouraged to use group photos showing other people having a good time in their company. It has been said this will help convey a user's friendliness, importance, and status. Interestingly women also find a man more attractive when they see other women smiling at him.

When it comes to online dating, 'complex language' in the headline message is also viewed as a massive no-no, while the most attractive traits vary between the sexes. Men seeking women are more likely to be drawn to physical fitness, with women seeking men preferring bravery and risk-taking rather than kindness and selflessness.

Professor Khalid Khan, lead researcher at Queen Mary University of London, explained: "Several factors make a difference when looking for love in a digital setting. Starting a screen name with a letter in the top half of the alphabet is surprisingly important – because several measures of success, such as educational attainment and income, are linked to names higher up the alphabet. Add to this the fact that search engines sort names alphabetically.

"People are also attracted to those similar to themselves. So before setting up your profile, look at the profiles of people you find attractive and choose a name with a likeness. It seems obvious to say an attractive photo is best, but try and include features such as a genuine smile that crinkles up the eyes, and possibly a tilt of the head. Women seeking men should wear red to boost the level of interest."

Professor Khan concluded: "Provide a 70:30 mix of who you are, and what you are looking for. Bear in mind that likeability is more attractive than academic achievement, and that a profile that appears genuine is more likely to generate interest."

(JP/IT)

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"Having a good screen name can make or break a person's success at online dating, new research has claimed."