Carrot Dating App Lets You Bribe Your Way Onto Dates

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By Samantha Murphy Kelly2013-10-24 15:21:45 UTC

A new app called Carrot Dating encourages users to wave incentives such as dinners and chocolates in front of potential mates as a way to convince them to go on dates.

The platform, which officially launched this week, embraces bribery as a dating tactic. The app's name is a nod to the phrase "dangle a carrot" — traditionally a horse or other animal — to get desired results.

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After perusing the website for matches, users can select the "carrot" of their choice, from a dinner and dessert to flowers, shopping and even trips.

Although Carrot's focus on bribery has been panned by many who call it sexist and problematic, founder Brandon Wade said it's just a way for people to go out with others they wouldn't normally have a chance with.

"This is the most honest form of dating because it allows singles to prove how serious they take an opportunity for a first date and essentially put their money where their mouth is," Wade told Mashable. "On traditional dating sites, suitors rarely get a chance with the man or woman of their dreams.

"Bribing like this works because both sides have absolutely nothing to lose and something to gain by breaking the ice and getting to know each other."

Wade, a graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said he developed the concept when he learned his "shy" and "socially awkward" personality made it hard to meet women.

"My mother had always given me the advice to focus on my studies first because if I became successful someday, I would be able to use my generosity as a dating edge," Wade said. "She was right in that certain intangibles, such as success, generosity and security, are much more important than good looks when it comes to dating. Her advice led me to create many of the niche dating websites for wealthy and successful singles."

Wade said although the concept of "generosity dating" can be used by anyone, Carrot is his attempt to bring it to the masses.

The app, which has more than 45,000 downloads since its Oct. 1 beta launch, has a ratio of 2 women to 1 man. So far, more than 28,000 bribes have been offered and accepted to date.

The Carrot Dating app is free to download on the App Store and Google Play; users who receive bribes can communicate at no charge. Only users who offer bribes must purchase credits to chat with the person who accepts his bribe. It costs $1 or less to unlock communication, so users only pay for results, Wade said.

Although some could take advantage of the system by accepting dates only for bribes and not to find a partner, Wade said, "there will always be genuine and disingenuous people in the dating pool."

"But one cannot find romance with another unless they have the first date to begin with," he added. "With low cost 'carrots' such as flowers or dinners, it’s a small price to pay for the chance at romance. After all, dating is a statistical game, and my hope is that one can use Carrot Dating to meet as many people as possible, thus increasing their chances at finding love."

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Image via iStockphoto, pearleye

Topics: apps, Apps and Software, dating app, Mobile, online dating, Tech, Work & Play