The science behind swiping right

Tinder is one of those delightfully weird microcosms of human society, which provides far more insight into our deepest insecurities than any of us probably want. It is, however, an absolute goldmine of interesting statistics, both in terms of what sells well to the opposite sex and the lengths that some people are willing to go to for a shot at finding love online.

For instance, did you know that by March 2014, approximately 5% of the population of Australia were using Tinder? Terrifying. Even more so is that, according to GlobalWebIndex, 42% of its global users are already engaged in a relationship. And before I give you the lowdown on how to use science to boost your profile, know this, because it’s important.

A man of average attractiveness will receive a right swipe from just 0.87% (one in 115) women on the platform…

Every Tinder user has a given ‘attractiveness’ rank, determined by the amount of interest their account gets. The bottom 80% of men (as ranked by attractiveness) are competing for the bottom 22% of women, and the top 78% of women compete for the top 20% of men. This is an extremely uneven weighting, which might be illustrated better with an example. A man of average attractiveness will receive a right swipe from just 0.87% (one in 115) women on the platform. If you still think it’s worth investing your time into the app, then read on.

And please, please, take everything with a generous pinch of salt. I take no responsibility whatsoever for failure to procure a relationship, although I smirk slightly as I write because we both know full well that if you’ve read this far you’re going to try at least one tip anyway.

Be honest in your description, and demonstrate humility, rather than embellishing and risk being found out…

Firstly, let’s address the bio, which is particularly important when women appraise men. A study from the University of Iowa showed that ‘warranting’, or using honest and easily verifiable information in a profile as opposed to overtly boasting, led to a higher attractiveness rating. Be honest in your description, and demonstrate humility, rather than embellishing and risk being found out. You’re a lot easier to track down on the internet than you think, and openly lying is a great way to ensure that first date never comes to pass. Your photo is obviously another vital factor – Tinder themselves say that who you’re with in your image sends messages to potential suitors about your personality. While your main one should be you by yourself to prevent swipers having to guess who you are, the latter ones might include friends, family, cur- rent partners, children from previous failed relationships or your creepy uncle Gary who stands just a bit too close. It might be best to exclude the latter few! While we’re on the subject, let’s talk about facial features too. Men on average prefer bigger lips and eyes but so er overall structure, while women seem to go for strong jawlines and facial hair. Girls, makeup is your weapon of choice in this department, while guys can opt for a clean shave from the jaw downwards to exaggerate the line.

Women are more likely to swipe right if the man in question holds a guitar…

There are a few other strange little tricks that apparently bump the statistics in your favour. In photos, having a slightly tilted head and crinkles around your eyes increase your chances. Women are more likely to swipe right if the man in question holds a guitar, even more so if he is actively strumming it. Ladies, consider the visual power of the colour red – men will choose you more often if your lipstick or clothing contains it. No bathroom selfies, make sure you’re fully clothed, and dogs are a definite winner for either sex. Just be sure not to refer directly to any pets as ‘my dog/cat…’, because for some reason that phrase turns o the minds of the particularly fussy demographic that Tinder attracts.

So there you have it, the data-driven, absolutely scientific approach to sex- ing up your Tinder profile. Best of luck, friends.