Hinge Adds Audio and More LGBTQ Features to Its App
Contributed by: kellyseal on Friday, November 12 2021 @ 09:12 am
Last modified on Friday, November 12 2021 @ 09:49 am
Hinge announced that it will be adding audio features to its dating app, including audio messages and audio clips for profiles. In addition, the company is creating more flexibility in searches for LGBTQ daters.
The audio messages feature will allow users to record and send audio clips to their matches, another way of getting to know someone outside of sending photos or text messages. Users will also be able to record audio to add to their profiles, so prospective matches can get a more complete picture of who they are.
At the same time, Hinge announced the addition of more features for LGBTQ users, including an update to its algorithm to add a non-binary gender category for users to search and find dates. Many dating apps offer profile features for non-binary users to identify themselves, but users haven’t had the ability to search for matches outside of self-identified “men” or “women.”
Hinge noted that all of the features were created to enhance and customize the dating app experience, allowing people to express themselves in new ways.
Dating apps have been rolling out video features since virtual dating became popular in the wake of the pandemic. Hinge also noticed that dating app users are gravitating to more interactive experiences overall, including virtual dating, video in profiles, and audio chats.
According to CNBC[*1] , Hinge CEO Justin McLeod referenced this shift in an interview: “It’s one thing to go and take pictures of yourself, it’s another to really go and tell stories and show an interest that get a conversation started. Giving people the ability to tell a richer story about themselves on their profile that’s not just a bunch of photos of themselves, I think, is where it’s going.”
Hinge’s parent company Match Group has been rolling out more interactive features across its apps, including a new Explore section in Tinder that offers virtual speed dating and the ability to chat with others instantly. Another big move by Match Group was the purchase of Korean social networking company Hyperconnect, which according to CNBC is credited with building “the first mobile version of WebRTC.” This means that the company will likely be adding even more live chat features and video experiences across its dating apps.
Many of these changes are influenced by Gen Z dating app users who are interested in connecting in more interesting ways on dating apps, and want choices beyond traditional relationships and gender searches, including offering non-binary search capability.
MacLeod said of the latest additions to the app, “…providing more options for people to create a more custom experience and build the profile that they feel really expresses who they are and when they look through profiles they don’t look all the same, I really think that that is a massive step forward.”
For more on this dating app, you can read our Hinge review.