Why Anonymous Marriage Ratings Are More Honest

Ask someone at a wedding how their marriage is going and you’ll get “great!” almost every time. That’s not lying, exactly — it’s what researchers call social desirability bias: people present themselves the way they think they should be seen.

Anonymity changes the answer

When nobody can trace a response back to you, the pressure to look good disappears. That’s why RateMyMarriage doesn’t ask for names, emails or accounts. You rate, you optionally share a thought, and that’s it.

Who benefits?

• Singles get a more realistic picture of married life.
• Married people see that they’re not the only ones struggling with the same things.
• Everyone gets a break from the highlight reel of social media.

The limits

Anonymous, self-reported ratings are not a scientific study — the people who choose to answer aren’t a perfect sample of all married people. Treat the numbers as an honest conversation, not a lab result.

Add your anonymous rating →