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NEW YORK – First impressions are everything when it comes to dating apps. And that doesn’t just apply to good things—Americans also have a long list of dating mistakes that just make them say “yuck!”
A new survey has revealed the most common “yucks” (sudden feelings of disgust or dislike) associated with dating profiles — and also what makes someone more likely to have a match. The Forbes Health survey polled 1,000 American adults who used a dating app in the last year and found that the average person takes nearly two and a half minutes to decide if they’re compatible with a potential date. In fact, a whopping 20% of respondents said they take more than five minutes to make that decision.
Nearly a quarter of dating app users spend just 31 to 60 seconds evaluating another user’s profile, and 21 percent said one to two minutes would be more their pace. However, 12 percent say they can decide whether to swipe left or right in less than 30 seconds.
The study found that women are more likely to share screenshots of their matches’ profiles with their friends. More than half (51%) admitted to doing so. Meanwhile, only 44% of men said they have done the same. Over six in ten (62%) of Gen Z members admit to showing potential matches to their friends first. On the other hand, only 32% of baby boomers have shared profiles that caught their eye.
Considering you have about two minutes to impress someone with your dating profile, what are the biggest “yucks” to avoid?
When asked what characteristics of a dating profile would make users more likely to decide against matching with a person, the top factors were negativity or bitterness in their bio (70%) and overly edited or filtered photos (63%). Too much emphasis on material possessions was also a big turn-off (62%), followed by a lack of effort in designing their profiles (60%) and poor grammar and spelling (60%).
On the other hand, according to the survey results, a good sense of humor (82%) is the most important feature of a dating profile that makes a person more likely to date someone. Having hobbies, interests or pastimes was also a turn on (80%), as was a good sense of style. Also highly rated were travel interests (71%) and having a pet in a photo (65%).
So how should you present yourself on the apps? When describing yourself on a dating app, think about what makes you different from others and be specific.
“Instead of a blank statement like ‘I love to travel,’ explain why or what you enjoy about traveling,” says Adelle Kelleher, certified dating and relationship coach and founder of Coaching Hearts Consulting, in a statement. “The more specific you are, the more you’ll stand out from the endless swipes and filter out people who don’t share the same interests as you.”
Be sincere and enthusiastic when you want to start a conversation.
“Let’s work on presenting ourselves as respectful, assertive, and curious to learn more about the person we are connecting with,” adds Cynthia Shaw, a licensed clinical psychologist and owner of Authentically Living Psychological Services.
Survey methodology
This online survey of 1,000 Americans who have used a dating app in the past year was commissioned by Forbes Health and conducted by market research firm Talker Research in accordance with the Market Research Society Code of Conduct. Data was collected from March 27 to April 1, 2024. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 points at 95% confidence. This survey was administered by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
