Hinge and modern dating: why do we keep coming back?

Hinge is the third-largest U.S. dating app and, despite positioning itself as more intentional, many users report unanswered messages, disappointing dates and limits on free features; a columnist surveyed friends who described mixed outcomes and reasons they return.

Hinge markets itself as a more intentional dating app, using profile prompts and features meant to encourage thoughtful matches. It is the third-largest dating platform in the United States, behind Tinder and Bumble. A USA TODAY columnist polled friends who use Hinge to explore why people keep returning despite frequent frustrations. The piece summarizes a range of user experiences and the reasons people continue to engage with the app. What the article reports: - Hinge is presented as an intentional alternative and asks users to complete prompts and curate profiles more deliberately than some other apps. - Survey respondents commonly described problems such as unanswered messages, dry or rude conversations, and dates that were disappointing or emotionally difficult. - The app limits free likes to eight per day, and many users reported upgrading to paid plans to access more features. - Experiences were mixed: some people reported finding long-term partners through Hinge, while others had negative or short-lived situationships. Summary: Users' accounts in the article suggest that many frustrations on Hinge are tied to users' intentions and behavior as much as to the app's design. The platform produces mixed outcomes for different people, and those varied experiences help explain why people repeatedly return. Undetermined at this time.