Unless you and your high school sweetheart are in it for the long haul, you’ve likely been on Hinge — I’m guilty as charged. No one is proud of it, but here we are. Whether you have a fully made account you never dared make public, are a seasoned Hinge veteran with a hundred inactive conversations or are even looking for a reason to download the app, you have come to the right place. Here is how to Hinge at UC Berkeley.
Step 1. Embracing the cringe
The number one reason people claim they’ve never tried Hinge — even when they’re interested — is because it can feel embarrassing. Most avoid the platform because it feels high stakes due to the dread you feel of your friend or classmate possibly seeing your Hinge profile, but realistically, it’s one of the lowest-stakes risks you can take. After all, if they’re seeing you on the app, that means they’re also on it themselves. So, give up that mysterious mystique; it is just as incriminating for the people that see you on Hinge anyways. Regardless, Hinge has you covered with a “Block List” feature which enables you to block all contacts, so you’ll be a fresh face.
Step 2. Curating the perfect pictures
Now that you have officially downloaded the app, let me tell you, the worst bit is yet to come: creating the perfect profile. Rule number one: Never use a group photo as your first picture. This should be obvious, but in the worst case scenario, you’ll get likes just that ask for your friend’s Instagram. Do yourself a favor and just use a solo picture as the cover. Rule number two: be silly. Hinge is already unserious, so you might as well put that picture of you passed out on the sofa on your profile. It’ll be a conversation starter for sure.
Step 3. Answering the prompts
Picking and writing your prompts is not a personal essay, but try and come up with something unique before looking up ‘funny Hinge prompts’ used by half the Berkeley Hinge population already … Beyond that, it’s never that deep — you don’t need to make rough drafts of your prompt responses. People will look at them for a maximum of half of a second — your pictures will likely draw more attention. Hinge has a variety of different prompts you can respond to, so just be genuine, intriguing and a little funny.
Step 4. Swiping and matching
Congratulations! Your personal profile is complete, and now it’s time to peruse. My personal favorite way to swipe on Hinge is lounging on the couch and treating it like I’m doomscrolling on TikTok. Shoot your shot liberally because no one really remembers all of their likes. Include a one-liner that responds to something shown in their pictures or prompts. That said, however, please keep your shot no more than PG-13 — they could very easily be in your next discussion section, so maybe steer away from your most unhinged slide-in.
Step 5. Messaging
You’ve got a match! Now, get that conversation off of Hinge ASAP. Conversations on Hinge were made to die and no one wants to seriously message on a dating app. At least move the conversation to Instagram, and if you’re really into someone, ask for their phone number. Remember, even if you think you’re hitting it off, believing you’re special to your Hinge match is like thinking a stripper truly likes you — not impossible, but proceed with caution.
With all of these tips and tricks, you’re on your way to mess around on Hinge for a week … and then delete the app, completing the life cycle. See you back on it next week.