How To Make The Hinge Algorithm Work For You
Dating has changed quite a bit over the past century. We used to have these fairytale ideals of how we would fall in love, as The Guardian noted. Sociologist Dr. Marie Bergström explained the idea that "love is blind, that a princess can fall in love with a peasant and love can cross social boundaries. But that is seriously challenged when you're online dating, because it's so obvious to everyone that you have search criteria. You're not bumping into love — you're searching for it." And nowadays, many people are searching for love with the help of modern technology.
Apps have become the new normal for finding a partner with options such as Tinder, Bumble, Ok Cupid, and more. Each of these apps has different features to help searching singles meet their match — on Bumble, women have to make the first move, while Tinder offers swipe parties.
Hinge is another popular app that has taken the dating world by storm in recent years. If you're thinking about trying it out — or have been on it but aren't having any success — you might be wondering about how to best use the app so you can find your match.
How does the Hinge algorithm work?
30% of adults admitted they use dating apps to find love, according to Bustle. And with so many users, people are often curious as to how Hinge actually determines what profiles to show as you swipe. After all, it can be frustrating to spend time creating your account only to find that the accounts you're shown don't seem to be aligned with what you're looking for. If you've had this experience, you aren't alone.
TikTok has tons of Hinge algorithm videos, with influencers and dating experts posting tips for how to understand the algorithm. A spokesperson for Hinge explained to Bustle that the idea is to "spark deeper conversations between users that, ultimately, lead to great dates."
Logan Ury, Hinge's director of relationship science, gave insight behind the algorithm (via Vice). "We use this Nobel prize-winning algorithm called the Gale-Shapley algorithm [a formula created by economists Lloyd Shapley and Alvin Roth that finds optimal matches between people "trading" in commodities]. It's not just based on who you are likely to like, it's also based on who is likely to like you back," Ury said. "It's all about pairing people who are likely to mutually like one another. Over time, we see who do you like, who do you send comments to, who are you having conversations with."
The people you're engaging with is how Hinge decides who your "most compatible" are. Here are some tips to help you get the best matches.
Think about the photos and prompts you choose
When working on creating your Hinge profile, there's a lot of information to be filled out such as your age, height, location, religious and political views, etc. The app also asks you to choose six photos and has prompts you can select to answer to give your potential matches a little insight into who you are. All of these elements combine to give these suitors a quick glance at your life and how you present yourself.
Hinge Director of Relationship Science Logan Ury explained how the photos and prompts you choose affect the types of connections you're making (per Vice). While some people opt for using memes and jokes on their profiles, Ury expresses that this can be damaging to finding deeper relationships. While "the Hinge algorithm wouldn't be influenced by a meme or writing a jokey answer," Ury says she "would encourage them to play around with what they put on their profile and perhaps try something a little bit more authentic or vulnerable, and see how that changes the types of conversations that they enter into."
According to Bustle, travel photos seem to be very popular for Hinge users — women who stumble across a profile with a travel picture are reportedly 33% more likely to contact the potential match. But travel photos aren't the only popular choice. Ury told Narcity that headshots, full body shots, and photos of you with your family and friends should also be used.
Remember to keep an open mind
Putting yourself out there can be really intimating. You might be recovering from past traumas, you could be trying to forget about your last relationship, or you just might not be ready for a serious relationship (per Pulse). But, you shouldn't let fear scare you from trying.
When you create a Hinge profile, keep an open mind. As The Relationship Expert shared, "if you can change your outlook on dating to a more open-minded one, your life will change . . . more specifically, your [love] life will change." Your willingness to be open when it comes to dating can affect the connections you're forming. You might come across someone's profile who doesn't initially pique your interest. But then you read their prompts, match with them, start a conversation, and you agree to go on this date. On the date, you might discover an "attraction after an initial non-attraction," as The Relationship Expert calls it.
Feeld, another dating site, notes that being open-minded in dating is someone who is "prepared to communicate with people in fresh ways, ways that are not the norm for you . . . you don't immediately say 'no' to something somebody suggests as an activity for you to do, simply because you've never done it before . . ." An open-minded dater is "someone who wants to expand their horizons and to engage without judgment." Think about these things the next time you open up Hinge and start a conversation with someone new.
Use the roses you get on Hinge
Every dating app has slightly different features that are available based on the type of membership you have. One of Hinge's unique features is its rose. According to the app, "roses are a new way to let someone know that you really, really like their profile." Users can look through their discover or standout profiles and opt to send a rose instead of just a like. You get one rose each week, or you can purchase roses throughout the week if you find multiple profiles you're interested in in your standouts. The free rose you get each week will expire, however, roses that are purchases roll over from week to week.
Using your roses is a great way to get your potential suitor's attention (via Hinge). The rose will be at the top of their likes list the next time they log on so you'll be front and center.
Here's a Hinge hack to help you find love
It's probably pretty likely that you've logged on to TikTok at some point over the past few years in search of tips for makeup, fashion, dancing, or even dating. You might be trying to figure out how to best use Hinge to find a successful relationship.
Metro recognized that " Hinge is hard enough without the algorithm working against us," so they did some digging and found a TikTok hack to help us solve our dating woes. With this hack, the outlet reported people who don't fit your wants can be replaced with suitors that do. According to TikToker @sippinwithsierra, saying no to all of the people in your standouts will trick Hinge into believing these people aren't your type. These potential matches, and more similar profiles, will then end up in your discover.
So next time you sit down and open the app, test out this theory for yourself. You may just be introduced to the person you'll end up falling in love with.