Sure, dating apps are in the midst of a failed era, but singles still turn to them to try to find their match, or at least a stable relationship. While a picture is worth a thousand words, prompts on apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are your chance to show off your personality to potential suitors before they swipe left or right. They're an integral part of the experience, and if you've been using these apps for a while, you'll probably notice some common themes in the responses.
Some like to brag about their somewhat legitimate international adventures, while others insist they're looking for someone who "doesn't take themselves too seriously." But there are also people who answer prompts in ways that lack character and personality. In some cases, the responses were downright boring. X User @yourhammergirl seemed to have seen the trend with these types of answers and wanted to see if replying with a mediocre prompt would help them get more matches.
"I will find a boyfriend by the end of April," they jokingly wrote in the April 15 post, which included a screenshot of Hinge's profile. Prompts include: "My controversial opinion is that pineapples belong on pizza," "I'm crazy about Taylor Swift," and "The way to win me over is to send me a picture of your dog."
While these tips are perfectly fine to use, they won't help you stand out from the crowd swiping for love on The Apps™. I mean, if you don't like pineapple on pizza, that's okay. Taylor Swift’s fan base is not small. Who doesn’t love dog photos? People on the app are looking for golden retriever energy for their black cat energy, not literal golden retriever energy.
But interestingly, the rapid changes seem to be working. Less than 10 hours after changing their profile answer, the user updated their followers and said: “I’m so frustrated with this. I changed my profile at 1:30am and woke up to find that the entire Got more likes. “Ouch.
FWIW, their answers weren't completely out of whack before these edits were made. In fact, they were more personal: "My answer was normal (I said I like rave and chess)." I don't know about you, but I'd rather hear about someone's favorite underground DJ from Berlin as well Their take on whether Queen's Gambit accurately captures the excitement of playing chess on a first date, rather than opening up another Swiftie Easter egg — this one's for people who've seen Ms. Swift perform live three times.
Experts say that while @yourhammergirl may be getting more matches from editors, it might not be a good idea to follow their lead and get more dates. Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, a professor of sexual communication at California State University, Fullerton and host of the Luvbites with Dr. Tara podcast , previously told Bustle that being clear and honest in your dating app profiles will lead to more meaningful relationships. match. So don't take the easy way out.
“Yes, you’ll get fewer matches — but quality trumps quantity,” she said. While @yourhammergirl may be getting a lot of the right swipes, these people aren't necessarily compatible matches because they aren't getting an honest first impression based on the prompts. Dating app tips can showcase your humor, your personality, and important things about you that no photo can share. Let your weird flag fly with your quick reflexes! Share your favorite memes! Ironic and bold!
Likewise, Jennifer Hurvitz, a relationship expert, dating coach, and host of the Get Your Relationship Right podcast, previously told Bustle that honesty is the best way to answer prompts, which can feel like a big deal. Obvious, but if you're feeling stuck, it's a good reminder to play less frequently. “Stay funny, confident and honest all at the same time,” she said. "If you know your intentions, you can avoid hurt feelings."
if @yourhammergirl really wants someone to go to rave parties with and cutely play chess with, but neither of those will show up in an answer about pineapple pizza and Taylor Swift. Sorry, people don’t really party hard on the Eras Tour, and dogs are cute, but what are you going to do with a stranger’s dog once she sends you a bunch of photos? Sure, it's flattering to receive a ton of matches... but if they're not your type, it's ultimately useless.
takeout? While a few simple responses to dating app prompts might theoretically yield more results, taking the time to answer them honestly will be better for you in the long run. Think about what you want in a relationship, who you want to attract, and what kind of responses will feel most authentic to you, then let the algorithm do the rest.
