Modern Love: JDate, Match.com & Grindr

[theme music] Finally tonight, another installment in our "On Technology" series in California-- PBS's Steve Goldbloom dives head-first into the world of online dating.

STEVE GOLDBLOOM: Hmm.

I knew she got a new job.

That looks fun.

Did you know Peter was a triathlete?

I didn't even know these people knew each other.

How did they go snowshoeing in the summer?

What?

[phone ringing] Hello.

JORDAN SMITH (ON PHONE): Stevey, Jordan-- how's it going?

Yeah, I'm doing really well.

How are you doing?

JORDAN SMITH (ON PHONE): You don't sound really well.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

I'm just doing a bit of reading, actually.

JORDAN SMITH (ON PHONE): Steve, are you at the office?

Are you on Facebook?

Are you on the [inaudible]?

No, I'm not.

JORDAN SMITH (ON PHONE): Steve, I'm on Facebook.

I see that you're on Facebook.

Listen, man I'm sorry about your ex-girlfriend but we've got to talk business.

The "NewsHour" wants someone to do a story on online dating and I said you-- I told them you just got dumped and would be perfect for the piece.

You interested in doing something like that?

I mean, yeah, I'm interested but what do you mean they're doing a story about dating?

That doesn't seem-- JORDAN SMITH (ON PHONE): We've got a bunch of sites for you in mind.

What do you think?

Do you have it?

Is it in frame?

Our mission is to create iconic niche-focus brands that build and strengthen the communities they serve.

Oh, yeah, but I'm very popular at weddings.

People come up to me and say, Do you have someone for my son or can you-- Right-- Can you fix up my daughter?

I'm going to show you a picture of my sister here just so you can just have the visual.

She's gorgeous.

Now, I understand we're going to set up a profile for me.

We are going to set up your profile.

No, you're-- I am Jewish.

Yeah, yeah, you are.

OK. How tall-- how tall are you really?

I would say six two.

Be honest.

Five eleven.

Get a clear shot of your face, what you really look like.

[camera flashing] Yep, that's an odd one.

I look like I have to go to the bathroom.

We have your mom on the line, Lynn Goldbloom.

LYNN GOLDBLOOM (ON PHONE): It's hard because I think he's pretty perfect.

Do you think Steve tends to get moody?

LYNN GOLDBLOOM (ON PHONE): Yeah, I think he does get a little moody and he needs a little space.

And I just keep asking him what his plan is.

I think we should get a little space right now.

LYNN GOLDBLOOM (ON PHONE): He always has so many plans.

How are you?

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Oh!

You look lovely.

Is it OK if we just-- we film the date?

Is that OK?

We have a microphone.

Yeah.

STEVE GOLDBLOOM: Testing five, four, three-- OK. Can you just go like this for me?

Yeah.

Just, like, maybe a bigger motion-- there it is.

So how do you take your coffee?

What is that, cranberry?

Do you mind if I take an apple?

You know, I've had enough apple.

I've had-- I'm good.

I'll buy an apple.

OK.

I might.

I have to meet a friend later so-- What are you guys going to be getting up to?

I think we might go shopping.

Oh, fun!

I'm going to go grab some water.

I'll be right back.

OK.

So what's your deal?

What are you doing?

You got an oyster.

Yeah, yeah, I thought-- I don't like oysters.

Oysters are great.

Get home safe.

Thank you.

Thanks.

It was fun.

Oh, yeah.

All right.

Take care.

Bye, Noah.

Ugh, what a nightmare.

Oh, you still have our mic.

Noah, do-- should we sit or should we stand?

Joel, tell me what was the inspiration behind starting Grindr.

As a gay man, one of the number-one challenges I have is figuring out who else is gay.

Actually, you explaining to my mother Grindr would be great.

Let's do it.

[beeps] Hi, Lynn, this is Joel.

I'm with Grindr.

I'm sitting here with your son and we're chatting about this app that I helped create called Grindr.

It lets you see gay guys around you.

I'm not sure.

I don't think he's gay.

Maybe, I don't know, we're not-- I don't think he's coming out to you here.

Noah?

NOAH: Yeah.

I want you to get the signs, OkCupid, Match, Speed Date.

Steve.

How are you doing, Steve?

Nice to meet you.

Welcome.

Yeah, this is Noah.

Hi, Noah.

Because we have a lot of data, we know which types of pictures, which types of camera, how to articulate yourself, how to articulate what you want, how to search-- we try to embed all that knowledge into our product.

STEVE GOLDBLOOM: Yeah.

So they're product managers over here?

No.

STEVE GOLDBLOOM: No.

No.

NOAH: They're coding.

STEVE GOLDBLOOM: They're just coding.

NOAH: They're coding.

STEVE GOLDBLOOM: So this is the more back-end for the site?

NOAH: Yeah, exactly.

STEVE GOLDBLOOM: Well, behind every love match, there's a lot of code.

This group here is part of the Stir team, which is the events part of Match, which has been fantastic.

We've done over 4,000 events to date.

Noah, you ready?

Yeah, we're here getting a historical tour of North Beach in San Francisco for-- as part of a match.com singles event for 30s and 40s.

Steve.

[inaudible].

Yeah.

Right on.

Great.

Great to see you.

Are you having fun?

Yeah.

Me too.

Right on.

It's a difficult environment to communicate.

I understand.

Yeah, no, but it's good.

But like, two.

That's difficult.

That's the end of the date.

Tonight, we had about 25 people that came out.

STEVE GOLDBLOOM: Yeah.

And I think as you saw, there were some connections.

Since we can't go to New York for the dating episode to talk to the Grouper CEO, we're just going a Hangout, which is fine because it's a show about technology.

I think my instinct, like many others, is basically, there should be an app for that.

What is Grouper?

Grouper is a social club that sets up drinks between two groups of friends, three guys and three girls.

So he invited us actually to go on a Grouper.

Do you guys have plans Thursday?

Noah is my-- the camera guy, director, and a close confidant.

Hey, Noah, do you want to finish the episode?

With all these new dating companies popping up, one must ask, Do more options actually translate into more meaningful connections?

Do you feel like that works?

I feel like I sound a bit like Sarah Jessica Parker.

[beep] STEVE'S DAD (ON PHONE): Hey Steverino, it's dad calling.

I just wanted to check in with you because there's some guy named Joel who left kind of an unusual message for your mom today and I think the company is called Grindr or something or Grind Her.

Anyway, mom and I just wanted to talk to you about it.

So when you have a chance, just give us a call.