In 2022, dating apps are all the rage — even if sending the first message is like pulling teeth. And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of a little app named Hinge. Think of it like Tinder’s older, hipper sister.
Branded as the “dating app designed to be deleted”, Hinge boasts a user base of millions and has quickly become one of the most popular dating apps amongst Gen Z. However, what makes Hinge special is that they’re listening to their Gen Z user base. And their newest update is proof of that.
On Nov. 16, Hinge launched a new feature on their app called “Relationship Types”, which is designed for people who may stray from monogamy in the dating world. I spoke to Hinge’s Hinge’s Director of Relationship Science, Logan Ury, to learn more about this groundbreaking feature. Spoiler alert: it’s pretty dope.
What Does Hinge Mean By “relationships type”?
If you have no clue what a “relationship type” is, don’t worry — I’ve been there. Before we dive into the feature, it’s important to understand the concept of ethical non-monogamy (or ENM). This is, essentially, the practice of having sexual (or romantic) partners outside of a relationship. What makes it “ethical” is that it’s consensual within the relationship. In simple slang, it’s an open relationship.
“Different types of non-monogamy might include things like I have a partner, but I’m romantically or sexually involved with other people,” Ury says. “It might be that the different partners in a relationship date other people independently, or maybe they date other people together as a couple.”
According to Hinge, 15% of Gen Z daters (on the app) are either exploring or unsure of their relationship type. This could mean that many Gen Z dates are curious about ENM, open relationships, or exploring other partners outside of a primary relationship.
“A majority of our users are still looking for monogamous relationships, but 15% of our LGBTQ+ users and 15% of our Gen Z users are either exploring what they want in a relationship, figuring out what they want, or they’re specifically interested in non-monogamy,” Ury says. “We’re having this launch so that we can really empower those users to share what kind of relationships they’re looking for.”
Not only does this feature help people who are interested in non-monogamy explore new relationships, this feature also helps users to be upfront about their desired relationships.
“The thing I’ll say about casual dating versus non-monogamy is that in non-monogamous relationships, people are explicitly agreeing that they’re not exclusive with each other, and that’s part of the conversation,” Ury adds.
How Does Hinge’s Relationship Type Feature Work?
If you’re still down for a monogamous relationship, don’t worry. The Hinge app isn’t going to be swept out from under you. “We saw that a lot of people were using different parts of their profile — for example, they were using the prompt section or the backstory section — to talk about the fact that they were looking for non-monogamy,” Ury shares.
In terms of where this lives on the app, you can find the “relationship types” prompt in your profile settings under the “virtues” tab. From there, you have the option to choose between monogamy, non-monogamy, or if you’re still figuring out your relationship type. There’s also a “backstory” section, where you can further elaborate on your what you’re looking for.
“For example, you could say, ‘I have a primary partner, but I’m looking to casually see other people’, or ‘I’m interested in exploring non-monogamy’ — you can really have a chance to express yourself and add more details [to your profile].”
With the dating game constantly evolving, there’s no denying that Hinge is keeping up. Not by hopping on dating bandwagons, but by listening to their audience.
“Hinge’s biggest focus is really on fostering those intentional and meaningful connections. The second thing is that we are staying up to date about what modern daters want and what they’re looking for and really helping them date efficiently,” Ury says. “It’s really an opportunity for different daters to express what they’re looking for and to see what other people are looking for.”