Hinge was one of the only dating apps targeted at a younger generation of 25 to 35 year olds, and we used Facebook to connect people with friends-of-friends,” Hinge’s Vice President of Marketing, Karen Fein, told the Observer. “When we first launched, we were different for a few reasons. If they seem appealing, but all of their answers prove you have nothing in common, there’s already nothing to talk about. You have to “heart” one of their activities, which will hopefully spark a more meaningful conversation than “hey.” But it will also make you think twice about matching with someone. Users can heart a photograph, or even the book someone is reading (I passed on someone who was currently reading “ Bleecher Report.“) You can’t simply swipe a certain way to like, or unlike, someone. Instead of swiping left or right, the choices emerge from the bottom. Hinge’s new ad campaign promises people who are seriously looking for relationships, for $7 a month.
I also put the dealbreaker option on for location, after getting matches in Boston. On the new Hinge, there’s a flexible age range option, which could be great if there’s someone a year younger that you otherwise would’ve missed but Hinge offered me a recent college graduate and someone a few years older than my father, so I changed it back to “dealbreaker,” which only shows people within your chosen age range. You can choose the specific questions you answer, so there’s no need to tell strangers how your parents met or which member of your family you’re closest to.
For example, a typical profile will boast a list of go-to karaoke songs, Snapchat usernames and emojis as descriptors.
HOW TO USE THE HINGE DATING APP FULL
(And, full disclosure, a former Hinge date once sent me the article on Facebook.) New Hinge aims to tell more of a story. Hinge decided to revamp after the Vanity Fair article Tinder and The Dawn of the Dating Apocalypse, which apparently thoroughly depressed everyone, from dating app users, to their parents, to the actual makers of the app. The digital dating landscape, according to Hinge, which throws major shade at Tinder and Bumble. While it is a bit different, it’s otherwise depressing to wonder if version 2.0 will work any better than the original version, which resulted in almost no long-term relationships. Users are asked to share anecdotes from their life, along with what they’re listening to and watching. It immediately syncs up with Facebook to gather all of the basic information and pictures, but it’s more similar to an OkCupid profile than a Tinder account. The biggest difference is that after a three month test period, users will have to pay. The new and improved Hinge, at first glance, doesn’t seem any different from the previously ineffective version. (Although according to Hinge, fewer people are meeting than one would think.) Then, you choose a potential partner based on appearance and a few random facts, start messaging, and maybe, just maybe, meet up. They sync with your Facebook page and present options. “With the introduction of Voice Prompts, we’re adding more authenticity to the profile experience, allowing users to fully display their personality in a new way.The multitude of apps all have overlap and blur together, taking up endless space on a phone begging for more storage. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, imagine how many your voice is,” said Hinge’s chief product officer Michelle Parsons in a press release. “Hinge wants to help people get to know you as soon as they see your profile. You can record a voice note for any of Hinge’s regular prompts (questions like worst date stories and favorite random facts). If users want to add a voice prompt to their profile, they should make sure the app is updated, then head to Settings > Edit Profile > Voice Prompt. Users will be able to exchange voice notes in chat. For many people, the sound of someone’s voice can be an important part of attraction, and exchanging voice notes is a more expressive way to communicate. Rival services like Bumble and Happn have already added voice notes to their app, and one app, String, only lets users communicate with their voice. The new features will roll out Wednesday globally and are the latest example of apps using voice to add a new dimension to digital dating. Dating app Hinge is adding new audio features, letting users answer the “getting to know you” prompts on their profile using audio clips and exchange voice notes in chat.