Hinge's Makeover: The New Era For Dating Apps

In 2011, Justin McLeod was a Harvard grad student who wanted to solve his dating woes. He invested his own money to start Hinge, a dating platform the company says is "designed to be deleted." What started out as a small company that struggled to compete with now billion-dollar giants like Tinder, has grown to become one of the most popular apps in the dating space. In 2023, Hinge brought in $396 million in revenue.

Produced by: Tasia Jensen
Managing Producer: Beatriz Bajuelos
Camera: Mickey Todiwala
Animator: Gene Kim
Reporter & Narrator: Nicolas Vega
Production Assistance: Valentina Duarte, Megan Sauer

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Hinge's Makeover: The New Era For Dating Apps

[santo]

The only people winning on dating apps are the Owners and Investors.

[dannyslebs]

Dating apps might be the demise of modern society. People are more dispensable, lonely, insecure, and susceptible to ghosting and always looking for the best "new thing" out there.

[aviantei]

By keeping people single and charging them for a dream.

[therealdavidleong]

Every Hinge user is at the mercy of the algorithm

[SAnderson]

People who can't date successfully in real life thinks it will miraculously change on an app.
I think many people don't know how to date and that's why they're complaining about the app. I've had great experiences on Hinge.

[Iaintsayinnothin..]

Shows that you don’t actually need a product that works or a startup that actually solves the problem in question - just sell the potential of it being solved and monetise well. Unfortunately the case with a lot of startups these days 😅

[general_electrics]

The app designs are partially to blame, but not entirely.
Most of the problem is in the mentality of the users. Either they aren't actually interested in meeting anyone or they treat everyone they meet as disposable due to an overabundance of _what appear to be_ options.

[Avery]

Did they really just say they used “their LAST $25, 000” on this project?!?! 😂😂😂. Yeah ok… super relatable!

[captaincode]

Would be nice to have a dating app that:

A. Let you actually modify preferences for free
B. Let you meet people local to you
C. Was actually fun
D. Focused on building a brand and community, instead of joining the long list of apps that don’t

[tungochuy]

Hinge is marketed as a better app than tinder by copying every single feature and adding 2 more that no one asked for 💁

[selecta_ssbm]

Thanks for contributing to the downfall of dating.

[darealphantom]

Like any other dating app Hinge sells you a dream, but I do like his story pretty motivating. Harvard business school definitely taught him the art of finessing

[sexytechreviews_]

Absolutely the worst dating app ever. Nothing but horror stories from very fine singles being treated horribly and either being banned or not getting any matches.

[JustineMfulama]

My husband and I met on Hinge 18 months ago too ❤

[carlogarcia]

I met my wife on Hinge, so 5/5 star review from me!

[theredguy]

Just love how they gatekeep your preferences behind a paywall.

[CarinLono]

Thanks for continuing updates I'd rather trade the stock market as it's more profitable. I make an average of $34, 500 per week even though I barely trade myself... 👍🏻

[ryanhotrod]

Why did the door break up with the hinge? It couldn't handle the constant swinging in their relationship

[Kaitokaz]

Match groups entire business model is screwing you over.

[LeandraJ]

Manipulating lonely ppl into giving you their money. What a genius idea.