Hinge first appeared in 2012. Back then, it was very similar to Tinder and other dating applications for iPhone and Android. It connected via Facebook and then proceeded to mine your Facebook friends’ connections for potential matches. The idea here was simple, if slightly misguided: if you’re friends with someone, maybe that friend’s friend might like to date you.
This was how Hinge functioned for a while. But then it completely changed its approach to online dating. The company that owns Hinge even changed its slogan to “designed to be deleted” – such was its confidence that it’d find its users long-lasting matches. Hinge also changed its setup procedure too; it now focuses on questions – like eHarmony – to get to know your better. After you’ve done this, the algorithm will present you with some options.
Hinge Works COMPLETELY Differently To Tinder
On Tinder, you swipe left and right on potential matches. This is kind of Tinder’s whole deal. You used to do this on Hinge too, but then Hinge changed the way it works. It now works kind of like Instagram, so you can comment on and like other peoples’ content on the platform – this is how you get on their radar.
Finding potential dates is different too. Rather than arbitrarily swiping left and right on profiles, as you do on Tinder, with Hinge you’re scrolling through user-generated content – updates from other Hinge users. If you comment on a post or like a post, the creator gets a notification and can then check out your profile and drop you a message.
This is the main fundamental difference between Hinge and Tinder, and it is a big one too. It means you can potentially connect with anyone and, unlike Tinder, it doesn’t require that they have already swiped right on you. If you can find someone on Hinge, you can potentially connect with them. They can, of course, choose to ignore your comment and/or like but at least you have a fighting chance. This is why it is important to make sure your comment stands out.
Hinge Works A LOT Like Instagram
The easiest way to get a better understanding of someone, online at least, is to view their social media profiles – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. Hinge clearly understands this and this is clearly also the motivating factor behind the app’s design and layout. The focus here is CONTENT and the reason for this is that CONTENT is unique, like a fingerprint – a single post can tell you a lot about a potential match.
To interact with other Hinge users you have to first find a profile you like the look of and then look through that profile’s content and posts. When you find a post you like, you can either interact with it by leaving a comment or a like. The user will then be notified that you have interacted with their content and they can then make a decision about whether to start communicating with you. This makes Hinge a lot more conversational than Tinder from the get-go.
The great thing about this approach to finding potential matches is that you can understand a lot about a person’s interests and personality before you even match with them. For instance, if you’re a drinker that loves sports, you probably wouldn’t match too well with a teetotaller that hates sports. Being able to see what your potential match posts about gives you more information than you get from a simple picture – and it makes it less about looks too.
