How I Beat the Tinder Algorithm
Originality was the key
Dating has never been more accessible and more complicated. It’s daunting to approach someone in public. It’s awkward to meet someone online. Yet, nothing seems more terrifying than staying alone.
Over the last decade, app developers jumped on the challenge of human encounters. At the forefront of dating apps, Tinder now has over 57 million users worldwide.
The interface is simple: profiles of people in your area (including photos and descriptions) appear on your screen; you swipe right if you like the profile and left if you don’t.
When an app has such a simple design and a clear purpose, what could go wrong?
Problems with the Tinder Algorithm
Gender distribution
If you’re a straight man, you’re already at a disadvantage on Tinder. According to GlobalWebIndex, men outnumber women 6:4 on the platform.
Men also tend to swipe right almost all the time, compared to women who do so only on profiles they are really attracted by. Thus, women have to manage a surplus of potential matches while most men are in a deficit.
The situation isn’t rosy for women either. Since they are more selective, most women will match only…
