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How OkCupid App Developer From Glen Rock Is Changing World Of Online Dating

GLEN ROCK, N.J. — Finding the perfect match just got a lot less overwhelming for OkCupid users -- and for that, they have Glen Rock's Joe Acosta to thank in part.

Joe Acosta, 25 of Glen Rock.

Joe Acosta, 25 of Glen Rock.

Photo Credit: Joe Acosta

Acosta, 25, is an app developer at the online dating and social networking website. He played an integral part in rolling out the company's new, experimental open messaging system.

"Our old system was a completely open messaging system," said Acosta (GRHS Class of 2010).

"Anyone could send multiple messages to anyone and the messages would go straight to the recipient's Messages Screen."

With the new OkCupid messaging system, users will only see messages if they choose to go to the sender's profile, after noticing that the person has messaged them. 

If the receiver decides that they're not interested in that person, they can pass on reading the message. 

If they do read the message but still decide that they're not interested, they can pass on the sender, and the message won't hang around on their Messages Screen like it used to.

Acosta developed all of the code for the Android app, which included building new screens and services for the OkCupid messaging flow.

The change came after many OkCupid users reported that they were so inundated with messages that sifting through them became an unimaginably stressful task.

Take this Reddit user, for example, who cited 50 messages and 700 likes daily.

"I was aware beforehand that women typically get more messages than men, but man, I did not expect it to be like this," she wrote on a thread.

"After straight up deleting all the 'hey,' 'what's up cutie?' and generally vile messages... I still have around 25 nice, thoughtful, interesting messages from guys who seem cool."

That user might be happy to know that because of OkCupid's new experimental messaging system, her inbox will be a lot less flooded -- as Acosta and others at OkCupid think dating should be fun.

Or at the very least, not entirely too stressful.

"Ultimately, our goal is to help people connect on the things that matter most -- which is more than just a photo," said Acosta, who studied computer science at the College of William and Mary.

"Many of our recently-released and upcoming features are about showcasing who you are beyond just how you look."

OkCupid also recently released its "discovery" feature, which allows users to find others based on common interests.

The company will soon be rolling out new essay prompts and "about me" questions," which Acosta described as the cornerstone of OkCupid.

The dating world is rapidly changing, and OkCupid is hoping its new messaging system will make for a better online experience.

Acosta decided to give OkCupid a whirl in 2016, when he was hired by the company.

Let's just say, he doesn't have a reason to leave the website as a user... yet (ladies, he's single).

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