What's going on with Hinge? The once dating app darling beloved by many has fallen from grace, leaving users from across the web agitated and ignored. So what's the tea? How did Hinge take a turn for the worse and what can it do to stop the bleeding?
"I opened an account and got banned within 24 hours of purchasing premium..."
Last year, I did a tutorial on Hinge, providing a step-by-step guide to joining the app. It is in the top 5 most-watched videos on my YouTube channel, and is one of the most searched dating apps on social media.
However, Match Group-owned Hinge has experienced growing criticism from users, with several issues being reported by singles on platforms like Reddit and via consumer complaints. One of the biggest concerns is around unfair bans. A quick google search for "Hinge ban" provides an alarming number of stories from users around the world, prompting publications like Fast Company to report on it.
A growing number of users are voicing their frustrations about being banned from the app without clear explanation or justification. In fact, complaints lodged with the Better Business Bureau were found to be much higher than those for competing apps like Tinder and Bumble. Users report that the appeals process is ineffective, often resulting in permanent bans, leaving them unable to use the app.
Reddit threads reflect widespread frustration. One Redditor shared, “I just got banned a few days ago [...] within 24 hours of purchasing Hinge X. I felt scammed. I was able to get a refund from Google but my appeal got denied.” Another user stated, "I opened an account and got banned within 24 hours of purchasing premium too. I’d only had the account for a few days and only messaged two people and very generic small talk."
And it's not just the banning issues that are causing ire. Some users feel that Hinge, which markets itself as an app designed to be deleted, encourages more engagement due to changes to its freemium model. There are even claims that its algorithm, while marketed for fostering relationships, pushes users toward endless swiping or mismatched connections. Some are so dissatisfied with the premium features that they're deleting the app altogether. Why pay for Hinge+ or HingeX upgrade when it doesn't improve the quality of matches?
To be clear, no dating app is perfect. There are inherent risks with using any app, and Hinge is not alone in the "dating apps suck" movement. But its mounting problems are not going away. Hinge is also facing racial bias complaints in moderation and its matching algorithms. Some BIPOC users feel that their matches are fewer in comparison to other racial groups and that they encounter profiles that exhibit discriminatory behavior.
So what's going on? Is Match Group in their villian era, or is something less sinister occurring?
For Hinge to recover from its growing reputation issues, several improvements could be considered:
- Increased Transparency in Moderation: Implementing a clearer ban policy with transparent appeals processes could help regain user trust.
- Algorithm Refinements: Ensuring that the app’s algorithm focuses on user preferences and genuine connection-building, rather than quantity over quality, would be beneficial.
- Premium Features Adjustment: Hinge should rethink its pricing strategy entirely to ensure that users receive value for their money. Perhaps offer personalized features for serious daters or better outcomes for those subscribing to premium tiers.
In terms of improvements, transparency is the key. Refining the algorithm to ensure better matches, and addressing user diversity concerns are all critical areas that Hinge could work on to rebuild trust with its community.
The jury isn't out yet, and Hinge could turn things around. But it will take a strong hand (and possibly a change in leadership) to improve the user experience to bring Hinge back to its former glory.
