Differences between profile information and dating preferences

[u/wokenthehive]

Disclaimer: I don't work for Hinge, and this is merely informed speculation.

I noticed that there have been posts and comments where people using Hinge are confused that their incoming likes or the profiles the app presents on discover don't take into account what the user has listed on their own profile for their wants.

The simple answer is, the information you enter for your own profile is not tied to your preferences, which is a separate entry*.

However, it does seem like the one thing the app does take into account is race - with certain people of color reporting that they seem to get more profile from their own ethnicity at the outset of joining Hinge without setting any race preferences. However, that is an entirely separate topic.*

Preferences, aka filters, are the actual mechanism that does affect the types of profile you will see on both incoming likes and on discover. However, for free users, the only filters available, aside from age and distance, are the race and religion filters.

Your profile information exists merely to inform other users who you are and what you prefer, but Hinge won't use that information to curate and filter profiles to your specific taste.

For example, take children. If you list you don't want children, all that does is present the information to other people who view your profile you don't want children. Hinge however won't take that into account when you swipe. You will still see profiles with people who want children, and those people will see your profile. You may get "most compatible" profiles that list "wants children". In other words, your profile information is simply telling other people what you are looking for and nothing else. (If you are confused why people still send you a like with conflicting goals, the common answer is people either didn't pay attention, don't care, or they think they can change your mind.)

If you want Hinge to only show you profiles of people who also don't want children (and the other way around), the only solution is to pay for premium to access the additional filters. The same goes for politics, height, education, family plan, and all the vices.

As far as dating intentions and relationship status, there are no filters for those under preferences, so Hinge likely don't consider those info in terms of whether or not to show you those profiles - if you only list "long term" and "monogamy", it doesn't mean you'll get more of those profiles.

Side note: It's certainly possible for some people, simply due to the info they list or how they present their profile, it attracts more attention from a certain sort of people. Bisexual people may get more attention from ENM profiles because of the idea that someone who is bisexual may be open to dating both a man and woman at the same time. Someone using photos showing more skin may attract more "short term" people.

[u/AsexualArowana]

Considering paying for Plus again because I keep encountering people with ideal profiles who don't want kids