Tinder wants to set the record straight about how its platform ranks and shows people potential matches, so today it published a blog post on the subject — but still kept things fairly vague. The company’s Elo score was a “hot topic” a few years ago, according to the blog post, but the ranking feature has now been deprecated.
The idea behind the Elo score was that Tinder would rank people by attractiveness. Elo scores are used to rank chess players, too, but in the context of Tinder, the more people that swiped right (or Liked) a person’s profile, the higher their assigned score went up. Their card would then be served to other people with a similar score, thereby keeping the most desirable people interacting with one another. On Tinder, where profiles are relatively limited in scope, a person’s looks often fuel much of the desire to match, so people speculated that these scores kept hot people talking to one another and left undesirable people to wallow with a low ranking.
Tinder has grown out of the Elo score
Tinder, unlike other apps, only requires users to input their age, distance, and gender preferences. It doesn’t look at a compatibility score, like sister company OkCupid, or offer filters based on height, religion, or ethnicity, like much of its competition.
“Our algorithm is designed to be open,” the company says. “Today, we don’t rely on Elo — though it is still important to consider both parties who Like profiles to form a match.”
Tinder adjusts potential matches a user sees every time someone acts on his or her profile, it says. The company reorders this user’s possible match profiles within 24 hours of actions being taken. That’s as concrete as Tinder gets in its blog post, but it sounds a lot like Tinder is relying on something similar to the Gale-Shapley algorithm, or the algorithm Hinge has said it uses. This algorithm identifies patterns around likes. If I like one guy, and so does another woman on the platform, she and I might have the same matching taste. If she’s liked someone on the platform that I haven’t seen yet, Tinder could show me that profile in the hopes that I might like it, too.
The new algorithm hasn’t been fully explained
Of course, Tinder is also Match Group’s greatest moneymaker, so it gives users the option to fully skip over any of these algorithm rankings with an in-app purchase. That can be in the form of a Super Like, which automatically moves a card toward the top of a person’s profile stack (and visually indicates to him or her that they’ve been Super Liked), or a profile boost, which Tinder says brings a profile closer to the top of many other users’ profile stacks for 30 minutes.
Tinder feels like a free-for-all app, where truly everyone exists, but as the platform grows, it needs to order profiles in a somewhat personalized way, or else finding a match would feel impossible. While Elo scores worried many users, it likely made hot people’s experiences better, and if they swiped until the bottom of Tinder, they likely would have seen people with lower scores. Tinder, and all dating apps, need to create matches and produce dates for people to stay connected, so it has an incentive to show people other users they might actually like to date.
As someone deeply immersed in the world of online dating algorithms, I can attest to the evolution of platforms like Tinder and their constant efforts to fine-tune the matchmaking experience. The recent blog post by Tinder is a significant move to clarify the intricacies of its matching system, shedding light on the transition from the once-discussed Elo score to the current algorithm.
The Elo score, initially a prominent feature, drew parallels with its usage in ranking chess players. In the context of Tinder, this score was a numerical representation of a user's attractiveness, influenced by the number of right swipes or Likes on their profile. The notion was to connect users with similar scores, thereby facilitating interactions among individuals deemed more desirable.
However, Tinder has since moved away from the Elo score, recognizing that looks alone shouldn't dictate the matchmaking process. Unlike its competitors, Tinder keeps its user input minimal, focusing on age, distance, and gender preferences. The blog post emphasizes that while Elo is no longer in use, the consideration of mutual interest in Liked profiles remains pivotal in forming a match.
The current algorithm employed by Tinder appears to be shrouded in a degree of ambiguity, but the company provides some insights. Tinder dynamically adjusts the potential matches a user sees based on actions taken on their profile within a 24-hour window. This adaptive approach bears semblance to algorithms such as Gale-Shapley or the one disclosed by Hinge, both identifying patterns in user likes to enhance compatibility.
Notably, Tinder, being a flagship moneymaker for the Match Group, offers users the option to bypass algorithmic rankings through in-app purchases. Super Likes and profile boosts provide a means to stand out in the crowded landscape, reflecting Tinder's acknowledgment of the need for personalized experiences amid the app's expansive user base.
In essence, Tinder's journey from the Elo score to the current algorithmic approach underscores the platform's commitment to refining the user experience, prioritizing meaningful connections over superficial judgments. As the app continues to evolve, striking a balance between algorithmic precision and user empowerment remains crucial for sustaining its role as a prominent player in the online dating realm.
FAQs
Here's the scoop: Elo is old news at Tinder. It's an outdated measure and our cutting-edge technology no longer relies on it. Today, we don't rely on Elo — we have a dynamic system that continuously factors in how you're engaging with others on Tinder through Likes, Nopes, and what's on users' profiles.
What is the 3 month rule on Tinder? ›
The safest and best way to reset your Tinder account is to wait 3 months or 92 days after deleting your account and making a new one. If you do this too quickly (within 24 hours) or too often, Tinder will flag your account as spam or a bot and might shadowban your account temporarily or completely ban you.
What is the desirability rating on Tinder? ›
Tinder's algorithm uses its very own "desirability" ranking, called an "Elo ranking" which pairs people together before they even get the chance to. The Tinder secret Elo ranking system is basically ruining lives. Apparently each user has a rating on the app, and they can only swipe through people of a similar rating.
Does Tinder penalize you for swiping too much? ›
Tinder tracks how much time you spend on a profile. If you breeze through profiles without looking at all the pictures or reading bios, then Tinder will penalize you. Swiping right without evaluating profiles signals to Tinder you aren't an attractive dude with high standards.
How do I reset my Tinder algorithm? ›
Algorithm on Tinder can be reset by deleting and re-opening your account. This will put you back to square one. Create a new email or register an account with a different phone number. The first few days on an account receive an extra “boost” in search so enjoy some additional matches.
How to beat the Tinder algorithm? ›
Tinder's algorithm shows you to other profiles who have similar photos, bios, or location settings to your own. To boost your Tinder profile, write a funny, creative bio and use pictures that show off your personality. Swipe left sometimes to select matches carefully and show Tinder that you're a high-quality profile.
What is the 1 mile rule on Tinder? ›
A five-mile max distance means that any user who fits your age and gender will show up. If you set it to 1 mile, then Tinder will show you people within a 1-mile radius from where you are at that time.
What is the 10 date rule? ›
What is the 10 Date Rule? The 10 Date Rule is: Men are the most likely to have a relationship with a woman that they have gone on at least 10 dates with. These are proper dates, not coffee catch-ups, sleeping together or hanging out together.
What is the 3 3 3 rule in dating? ›
Furthermore, the 3-3-3 rule can also help couples establish a healthy balance between individuality and togetherness. By spending three days apart, three days together, and three days doing individual activities, couples can maintain their own interests and hobbies while still prioritizing their relationship.
How do you tell if you're a popular user on Tinder? ›
Do Top Picks know they are Top Picks? There's no way to tell for sure. Tinder won't notify you if you're featured on someone's Top Picks. However, it might be more likely that you're a Top Pick if you're getting more Super Likes and matches than usual.
A lot of people think that Tinder ranks its users by their looks, but this is not the case. In fact, there are three main factors in a person's attractiveness: profile pictures (with ROAST this should already be handled for you anyway); behavior on the app (swiping right to like someone and left to pass);
What is the average male success rate on Tinder? ›
Let's look at some Tinder usage statistics. In terms of Tinder app success rate, a guy has a 2.8% chance of landing a match, while a girl has a 35% chance of landing a match. (source : Roast data set, 2024)The Tinder success rate for girls far outweighs those for guys, but guys can still stand out.
Is Bumble better than Tinder? ›
If you're looking for a heterosexual relationship and like the idea of the woman taking initiative, Bumble may be your best bet. However, if you're a heterosexual single and want the flexibility to make the first move or wait for your match to do so, Tinder may be a more fitting choice.
What hurts your Tinder algorithm? ›
Tinder does take into account both how picky you are (they punish swiping left on every one and swiping right on every one) and the types of girls you swipe right on (Recently tinder confirmed that they have a “typing” system and try to show you more of girls who are your perceived “type”.
Why is Tinder unhealthy? ›
There is nothing inherently bad about stimulating dopamine production; in the short-term, this feels great. However, building our dopamine pathways in the unhealthy, excessive way that Tinder and its companions do, negatively impact people's mental well-being in the long run.
What is the alternative to Elo rating system? ›
There are several alternatives to the Elo approach. Professor Mark Glickman developed the Glicko and Glicko-2 systems, which extend the Elo system by introducing additional parameters to represent the reliability and volatility of player ratings.
Is there Elo in dating apps? ›
Just as in chess, where each player has a rating, many dating apps employ a similar scoring system to rank users. This system, known as the ELO score, plays a crucial role in determining who sees your profile and, ultimately, who you match with.
Did Tinder change its algorithm? ›
In March 2019, Tinder boasted a new technology that was an improvement from the previous algorithm. While they did not state clearly what this new technology was, it is likely that it resembles their competitor Hinge's system, which uses a Gale-Shapley algorithm.
Does Tinder use facial recognition on banned accounts? ›
Luckily, we believe that Tinder is not using facial recognition to track banned accounts. Besides the privacy concerns, there's simply not enough evidence to show that facial recognition is being utilized.
