5 ms·

Wait, so guys are still getting matches on there? Am I the only one who doesn't get matches anymore? A couple years ago I'd get like 5-10 matches/day using the

Wait, so guys are still getting matches on there? Am I the only one who doesn't get matches anymore? A couple years ago I'd get like 5-10 matches/day using the app for like 10-15 mins/day tops. Every time I'd log in, the first 5-10 or so profiles would be from people who swiped right on me. Now I seriously never get matches anymore. I'd estimate that it'd take me 30 minutes of swiping right on every single profile to even get a single match. I live in one of the most population dense areas (Manhattan) and consider myself at least average looking. Anyways I've abandoned Tinder for a competitor. I'm getting matches in the new app at a rate that's more in line with how Tinder used to be for me. My theory is that guys on Tinder just began swiping right on every single profile. I guess it's more efficient that way because then you can just filter the matches afterwards who you know are already interested in you. But the downside is that it makes women more selective. Even then though, it doesn't make sense that I can load up Tinder now, swipe right on the first 100 profiles, and not get a single match (unless they changed the algorithm to not put people who liked you you at the top).

JimboOmega 12y ago
Swiping right constantly is close to my strategy, and most guys, because of the low rate of matches. I've been known to swipe right rather than wait for images to load, definitely.
Apofis 12y ago
What's the alternative?
freyr 12y ago
> and consider myself at least average looking There's your problem. Many men on various online forums have compared their response rates when using a photo of an average looking man (or even above average looking man) and when using a photo of a very attractive man. The average man gets almost no matches, and the attractive man gets nearly all matches -- and, apparently, a surprising number of invitations for casual sex. It seems to be a case of the Pareto principle, with 20% of men claiming 80% of the rewards, though the numbers might be closer to 5% and 95%. I'd assume this is a consequence of skewed supply and demand, where most men are happy to match with anyone and therefore swipe right frequently, and women receive many potential matches and can afford to be selective. I suspect this plays out in the dating scene as well (e.g., a small percentage of men sleep with a disproportionately large percentage of women). But the situation seems even more skewed on Tinder, where all emphasis is on physical appearance.
- zend3v 12y ago
  Speaking from the point of view of an average guy, my immediate thought is: Life is a cruel mistress. I tried Tinder when I moved to a new city and didn't know anyone and I failed dismally. I have since given up on it and deleted it and to be frank, I am happier now I don't concern myself with trying to hook up or meet females. Harsh but true.
- JDiculous 12y ago
  Yeah, maybe it's just the inevitable endpoint of online dating for any man who's merely average-looking (yet has high standards). Looks like us average-looking men have to go back to the old-school way of meeting women.
- hagan_das 12y ago
  >I suspect this plays out in the dating scene as well (e.g., a small percentage of men sleep with a disproportionately large percentage of women) I've seen studies that say 20% of men get the vast majority of women and sex.
  - boyaka 12y ago
    Not a study, but it has certainly been mentioned before. Here's a relevant discussion (and YC alternative to Tinder) where the same topic is discussed (ctrl-F tinder). https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8454405 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8454405
fudged71 12y ago
You should make a bot that uses a genetic algorithm to optimize your profile photo to get higher match rates.
rgj 12y ago
Being average looking should land you the most responses: http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/page/14/ http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/page/14/
- glial 12y ago
  OKCupid shows profiles of people who are roughly as attractive as you are. This means average-looking women don't even have the option of messaging great-looking guys, and are presumably more willing to message average-looking guys. I don't know whether Tender does this.

JimboOmega 12y ago

Swiping right constantly is close to my strategy, and most guys, because of the low rate of matches. I've been known to swipe right rather than wait for images to load, definitely.

Apofis 12y ago

What's the alternative?

freyr 12y ago

> and consider myself at least average looking There's your problem. Many men on various online forums have compared their response rates when using a photo of an average looking man (or even above average looking man) and when using a photo of a very attractive man. The average man gets almost no matches, and the attractive man gets nearly all matches -- and, apparently, a surprising number of invitations for casual sex. It seems to be a case of the Pareto principle, with 20% of men claiming 80% of the rewards, though the numbers might be closer to 5% and 95%. I'd assume this is a consequence of skewed supply and demand, where most men are happy to match with anyone and therefore swipe right frequently, and women receive many potential matches and can afford to be selective. I suspect this plays out in the dating scene as well (e.g., a small percentage of men sleep with a disproportionately large percentage of women). But the situation seems even more skewed on Tinder, where all emphasis is on physical appearance.

zend3v 12y ago
Speaking from the point of view of an average guy, my immediate thought is: Life is a cruel mistress. I tried Tinder when I moved to a new city and didn't know anyone and I failed dismally. I have since given up on it and deleted it and to be frank, I am happier now I don't concern myself with trying to hook up or meet females. Harsh but true.
JDiculous 12y ago
Yeah, maybe it's just the inevitable endpoint of online dating for any man who's merely average-looking (yet has high standards). Looks like us average-looking men have to go back to the old-school way of meeting women.
hagan_das 12y ago
>I suspect this plays out in the dating scene as well (e.g., a small percentage of men sleep with a disproportionately large percentage of women) I've seen studies that say 20% of men get the vast majority of women and sex.
- boyaka 12y ago
  Not a study, but it has certainly been mentioned before. Here's a relevant discussion (and YC alternative to Tinder) where the same topic is discussed (ctrl-F tinder). https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8454405 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8454405

fudged71 12y ago

You should make a bot that uses a genetic algorithm to optimize your profile photo to get higher match rates.

rgj 12y ago

Being average looking should land you the most responses: http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/page/14/ http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/page/14/

glial 12y ago
OKCupid shows profiles of people who are roughly as attractive as you are. This means average-looking women don't even have the option of messaging great-looking guys, and are presumably more willing to message average-looking guys. I don't know whether Tender does this.