Women Who Send First Message Are Favored in Online Dating, Study Finds

Women are more than two times as likely to get a response in the online dating world if they send the first message, according to a new study.

The research, published by dating website OkCupid using data from the site, also suggests that the women who message first are more likely to chat with more attractive men. Straight women who send the first message typically receive replies even from men who are rated as more attractive. Conversely, women tend to be approached by men who are less attractive than they are.

The majority of women don’t send the first message in online dating conversations. Straight women are 3.5 times less likely to send the first message than straight men, according to the study.

“There are women on the site that are reaching out, and they’re getting all of the benefits,” said Jimena Almendares, the chief product officer at OkCupid, told the New York Times.