The great sex recession: how dating apps created a digital caste system

NEW YORK, January 2025 - Silicon Valley's dating platforms have engineered an unprecedented crisis of connection. The average man faces 111 rejections before he lands a single match on a dating app, and success is brutally concentrated: 10% of men capture 90% of all matches, while the bottom half receive 1% of matches. This systematic exclusion has real consequences: one in three young men (ages 18-24) reported no intimacy in recent years, and 63% of men under thirty are single. The crisis has become so severe that in 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness an epidemic, linking it directly to serious mental and physical health implications.

Ari, the AI wing girl built on extensive matchmaking data, is here to help what experts call a fundamentally broken system. Whether a man is swiping on apps, sliding into DMs, or navigating real-world encounters, Ari is their 24/7 dating co-pilot to help them navigate modern dating – from dating apps to social media to real-world encounters – with personalized guidance. Early users report an average 300% increase in dates within the first month of using Ari. This potential has attracted pre-seed investment from leading unicorn founders. 

Created by the experts at VIDA Select ,who boast a 78% success rate, Ari’s advice stems from 15 years of online dating expertise where professional ghostwriters have managed millions of messages for high-paying clients who outsource their dating lives for thousands of dollars a month. A recent Norton study found that 64% of online daters want AI assistance with dating. Ari was compiled from millions of messages, tens of thousands of dates, and thousands of successful relationships. She has a distinct personality that is warm, witty, and unafraid to be direct. Typical dating apps only swipe and match, Ari goes further. 

Ari’s features include:

• Bio Builder: Makes stand-out user profiles designed to spark interest and attract quality matches

• Message Magic: Crafts compelling messages that maximize your chances of a response

• Ask Ari™: Receive real-time, expert dating advice for any dating scenario

“We're not just launching a product," said Scott Valdez, Co-Founder and CEO of Ari and VIDA. “We’re launching a movement. Men who are overwhelmed by isolation and lack meaningful connections are facing increasing levels of depression and anxiety every day. Ari is here to help level the playing field. Importantly, Ari doesn’t take away the real human element - she empowers it. The real problem isn't too much AI in dating - it’s that we don’t have enough. Our goal is to empower people to form genuine connections.” 

Ari is free to try, with premium features available for only $20 per month. Try it now by downloading the app on the Apple Store or Google Play.