New app Carrot offers 'bribes' for dates, criticised for misogyny

CAN'T get anyone to fall in love with you? Just 'bribe' them with money or a new set of breast implants. But don't worry, it's not prostitution ... apparently.

Not for everyone ... the new app. Picture: Supplied

CAN'T get anyone to fall in love with you? Just "bribe" them with money or a new set of breast implants.

It sounds a little like prostitution to some commentators but that's the philosophy of a new online dating app called Carrot founded by tech entrepreneur Brandon Wade.

The premise of Carrot is that suitors who don't think they have any redeeming personal qualities can just "bribe" a lucky lad or lady into going out for a bite or drink.

But the bribes not only include buying a potential lover a night out but a tank of petrol of even plastic surgery as well.

"By 'dangling' the right 'carrot' in front of beautiful girls, suitors can convince anyone to say 'yes' to a first date," Mr Wade wrote in promotional material.

"Give a dog a bone and it will obey. Give a woman a present and she'll ..." he continued, before trailing off.

Wade has said he was inspired by his lacklustre love life. Picture: Twitter

Wade has brewed up an online cash-for-dating empire out of his own nerdsweat but has sparked a fierce backlash from commentators who believe his business model is misogynist.

At his first site, SeekingArrangement.com, so-called "babies" could find a "sugar-daddy" who could shower them in gifts in return for "friendship, or intimacy".

In 2011 he founded what he called 'the eBay of dating', WhatsYourPrice.com. The only difference was that instead of purchasing a second-hand Xbox, users could "buy the first date".

Business Insider's Christina Sterbenz wrote: "This problematic app is teaching men that women are greedy idiots who can't see through blatant and pathetic misogyny.

"For the record," she continued, "if you offer a woman a present in exchange for a first date, then you're implying she can be bought, just like a hooker."

Why should women be afraid if their dream guy happens to be rich too? No one dreams of living in a shack while going paycheck to paycheck

— Brandon Wade (@AskBrandonWade) July 9, 2013

Instead of viewing women as dogs or prostitutes maybe you should have developed a personality, nice guy. @AskBrandonWade

— Aislinn (@twnty7) October 23, 2013

But who can't see the romance in buying someone plastic surgery? Just imagine.

"Hey ... look, I think you're kinds cute. I wouldn't mind seeing you sometime ..."

"I'll get you a really good nosejob."

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