Hinge - Dating App Design and Messaging Feedback
Explore reactions to dating app design philosophy and what messaging resonates with singles
Main insights: Hinge’s human-first prompts feel helpful and the slogan sparks hope, but credibility erodes with boosts, gated likes, FOMO nudges, and opaque algorithms; users want proof via transparent outcome metrics, deletion receipts, and respectful opt-outs. Conversation confidence rises with ultra-specific prompts tied to photos, 10–20s audio/quick intro video, intent/deal-breaker badges, one-tap scheduling (with drive-time/halfway logic), anti-ghosting rails, low-data mode, and bilingual support; stand-out ideas include strict match caps, quiet reputation/flake signals, and dog-friendly/local logistics. Takeaways: Prioritize Verification 2.0 and in-app safety, ship in-chat scheduling plus polite-pass closures, enforce hard distance caps with rural-friendly drive-time and low-bandwidth mode, and reset monetization/lifecycle to be transparent and non-gamified-then publish outcome KPIs to make “designed to be deleted” credible and reduce churn.
Sara Maciel
Sara Maciel, 28, married bilingual homeowner in rural Norfolk, VA. Graduate-trained in public health, currently not working; manages a disciplined, frugal household, gardens extensively, volunteers at a food pantry, and prefers offline, low-data tools due t…
Alexandra Zavala
Alexandra Zavala, 30, married Hispanic mom of two in San Antonio, is a bilingual (Spanish-English) WFH Care Navigation Manager in telehealth with $200k+ household income. Organized and community-minded, she prioritizes efficiency, quality, preventive health…
Courtney Roman
Courtney Roman is a Spanish-speaking 40-year-old mother of three in Fort Smith, AR. Homeowner, uninsured, budget-focused, and not in the labor force. Values family, church, and reliability; prefers clear pricing, Spanish support, and low-risk, durable choices.
Karli Ponte
Karli Ponte is a practical, upbeat group sales rep in rural Missouri who loves rivers, thrifting, and her dog. Budget-savvy and community-minded, she values clear pricing, durability, and solutions that respect small-town realities.
Celina Wolfe
37-year-old single caregiver in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Lives with her mother, relies on predictable, budget-friendly solutions. Pragmatic, faith-guided, and routine-driven. Chooses reliability and low complexity; values community support, clear pricing, an…
Megan Whitaker
Married utility safety professional in rural New Jersey. Faith-centered, outdoorsy, practical and budget-conscious. Blends fieldwork and remote days, values reliability and community, and prefers durable, transparent products with strong support over hype.
Sara Maciel
Sara Maciel, 28, married bilingual homeowner in rural Norfolk, VA. Graduate-trained in public health, currently not working; manages a disciplined, frugal household, gardens extensively, volunteers at a food pantry, and prefers offline, low-data tools due t…
Alexandra Zavala
Alexandra Zavala, 30, married Hispanic mom of two in San Antonio, is a bilingual (Spanish-English) WFH Care Navigation Manager in telehealth with $200k+ household income. Organized and community-minded, she prioritizes efficiency, quality, preventive health…
Courtney Roman
Courtney Roman is a Spanish-speaking 40-year-old mother of three in Fort Smith, AR. Homeowner, uninsured, budget-focused, and not in the labor force. Values family, church, and reliability; prefers clear pricing, Spanish support, and low-risk, durable choices.
Karli Ponte
Karli Ponte is a practical, upbeat group sales rep in rural Missouri who loves rivers, thrifting, and her dog. Budget-savvy and community-minded, she values clear pricing, durability, and solutions that respect small-town realities.
Celina Wolfe
37-year-old single caregiver in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Lives with her mother, relies on predictable, budget-friendly solutions. Pragmatic, faith-guided, and routine-driven. Chooses reliability and low complexity; values community support, clear pricing, an…
Megan Whitaker
Married utility safety professional in rural New Jersey. Faith-centered, outdoorsy, practical and budget-conscious. Blends fieldwork and remote days, values reliability and community, and prefers durable, transparent products with strong support over hype.
Sex / Gender
Race / Ethnicity
Locale (Top)
Occupations (Top)
| Age bucket | Male count | Female count |
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| Income bucket | Participants | US households |
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Summary
Themes
| Theme | Count | Example Participant | Example Quote |
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Outliers
| Agent | Snippet | Reason |
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Overview
Key Segments
| Segment | Attributes | Insight | Supporting Agents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish-speaking / Hispanic respondents |
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Localization is not just translation: respondents want Spanish-first prompts, plain-language account controls (one-tap delete, big block/report), visible verification signals, and culturally relevant filters (family, faith). Simple, trust-building safety affordances reduce activation friction for this group. | Alexandra Zavala, Courtney Roman, Sara Maciel |
| Rural / small-town users |
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Rural users need pragmatic, low-data UX and geographically realistic tools: compressed media / low-bandwidth modes, drive-time or halfway-meet calculations, and filters that avoid far-away matches. They prioritize logistics and local signals over high-volume discovery. | Karli Ponte, Megan Whitaker, Celina Wolfe |
| Caregivers / parents / stay-at-home respondents |
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Predictability matters: preset scheduling windows, daylight-first date suggestions, simple reschedule/flagging for repeat flakes, and quiet notification controls reduce the cognitive load of dating while caregiving. | Courtney Roman, Celina Wolfe, Karli Ponte |
| Religious / faith-oriented users |
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Faith-focused users seek explicit profile fields and filters (practice level, Sunday availability), faith-friendly daytime events, and signals of reliability/manners. These fields enable better signal-matching and reduce mismatches that lead to wasted interactions. | Celina Wolfe, Megan Whitaker |
| Higher-education / higher-income professionals |
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This group is skeptical of marketing claims and seeks measurable evidence: median time-to-first-date, deletion metrics, clear moderation outcomes, and verification proof. They favor pricing that doesn’t create perverse incentives to retain users indefinitely. | Alexandra Zavala, Sara Maciel, Megan Whitaker |
| Younger single users (late 20s) |
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Younger users operate in bursts and churn apps unless matches quickly convert. They value curated daily matches, anti-ghosting nudges, and specific conversation starters (prompts and short audiovisual intros) that accelerate meeting offline. | Karli Ponte, Sara Maciel, Alexandra Zavala |
| Product-savvy / power users |
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A minority of respondents act like expert testers: they request reproducible KPIs, reputation or reliability scores, evidence exports for moderation, and accountability metrics for post-date behavior. These requests point to feasible advanced features but may not be mainstream priorities. | Megan Whitaker, Alexandra Zavala, Sara Maciel |
Shared Mindsets
| Trait | Signal | Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Visible safety & verification | Almost all respondents want clear, user-facing verification and quick safety controls (ID/photo verification, one-tap block/report, in-app check-ins or shared plans) to reduce uncertainty before meeting. | Alexandra Zavala, Courtney Roman, Celina Wolfe, Karli Ponte, Megan Whitaker, Sara Maciel |
| Anti-gamification and transparent pricing | There is strong opposition to engagement-first mechanics (boosts, confetti, traps) and auto-renew dark patterns. Respondents prefer straightforward subscription or clear one-time payments and explicit value signals tied to outcomes (dates, responses). | Alexandra Zavala, Courtney Roman, Megan Whitaker, Karli Ponte, Celina Wolfe |
| Time-respecting product design | Users value features that respect limited time: scheduling presets, caps on active chats, auto-reschedule/flagging for repeat flakes, and nudges to close stale conversations. | Alexandra Zavala, Karli Ponte, Celina Wolfe, Megan Whitaker |
| Concrete conversation primitives | Specific prompts that force detail and short 10–30s audio/video intros are widely seen as high-leverage: they increase trust, reduce shallow messages, and speed decisions about meeting. | Karli Ponte, Alexandra Zavala, Megan Whitaker, Sara Maciel, Courtney Roman |
| Low-bandwidth & local logistics for rural users | Rural respondents consistently call for compressed media, low-data modes, and realistic distance/drive-time filters-defaults designed for dense urban pools degrade rural experience. | Karli Ponte, Megan Whitaker, Celina Wolfe |
| Accountability for ghosting / no-shows | Users broadly want gentle accountability mechanisms (reputation signals, flake flags, nudges to close chats) to reduce the emotional and time costs of repeated no-shows. | Megan Whitaker, Karli Ponte, Celina Wolfe, Sara Maciel |
Divergences
| Segment | Contrast | Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Rural users vs higher-education professionals | Rural users prioritize low-bandwidth, drive-time realism, and local logistics; higher-education professionals prioritize transparent KPIs and moderation evidence. Rural fixes are operational/usability-focused, while professionals ask for public metrics and algorithmic transparency. | Karli Ponte, Megan Whitaker, Alexandra Zavala, Sara Maciel |
| Caregivers/parents vs younger burst-users | Caregivers want predictable, daytime-first scheduling and quiet notifications to fit caregiving rhythms; younger late-20s users prefer momentum tools that accelerate moving from chat to date and can tolerate more ephemeral interactions. | Courtney Roman, Celina Wolfe, Karli Ponte, Sara Maciel |
| Spanish-speaking respondents vs general UX assumptions | Spanish-speaking/Hispanic respondents emphasize bilingual-first flows, plain-language controls, and cultural fields; general UX assumptions that prioritize English-first microcopy and layered settings risk excluding or frustrating this segment. | Alexandra Zavala, Courtney Roman, Sara Maciel |
| Faith-oriented users vs neutral/policy-agnostic design | Faith-oriented users want explicit filters and scheduling options (e.g., Sunday availability); a neutral, one-size-fits-all design underweights these identity signals and increases mismatched interactions for this group. | Celina Wolfe, Megan Whitaker |
| Product-savvy power users vs mainstream casual users | Power users request advanced metrics, reputation scores, and exportable evidence; mainstream users prioritize straightforward safety, scheduling, and less cognitive friction-advanced features may delight power users but not move the majority. | Megan Whitaker, Alexandra Zavala, Sara Maciel, Courtney Roman |
Overview
Quick Wins (next 2–4 weeks)
| # | Action | Why | Owner | Effort | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polite pass + close-stale chat templates | Reduces ghosting and emotional cost; users want easy, respectful exits. | Product (Core) + Design (UX) | Low | High |
| 2 | Default Quiet Hours + batched notifications | Cuts anxiety and late-night creepiness; aligns to caregiver/rural needs. | Product (Core) + Engineering (Mobile) | Low | Med |
| 3 | Transparent pricing and one-tap cancel/delete | Users reject hidden paywalls/auto-renew; strengthens trust and reduces CX load. | Monetization PM + Legal/Policy + CX | Med | High |
| 4 | 10-second profile audio intro (optional) | High-signal authenticity boost; increases first-message rates. | Product (Profiles) + Engineering (Mobile) + Trust & Safety | Med | High |
| 5 | Enforce hard distance caps | Frequent complaints about irrelevant far-away matches; quick relevance win. | Engineering (Backend/Ranking) | Low | High |
| 6 | Bilingual microcopy + Spanish support queue | Builds credibility with Spanish-speaking users; reduces friction and tickets. | CX/Localization + Content Design | Low | Med |
Initiatives (30–90 days)
| # | Initiative | Description | Owner | Timeline | Dependencies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Safety & Verification 2.0 | Introduce selfie video liveness + robust photo freshness checks, strengthen ban-evasion detection, and add in-app date safety tools (share-a-plan, check-ins, easy evidence export). Keep badges meaningful, not cosmetic. | Trust & Safety + Engineering (Identity) + Legal/Policy | Pilot in 8–12 weeks; full rollout by 16 weeks | IDV vendor (e.g., Persona/Onfido), Risk/Abuse tooling, Privacy review (PIA/DPA), Content guidelines update |
| 2 | Meetflow: In-chat scheduling and logistics | Convert matches to plans quickly: one-tap propose-3-times, auto reminders, respectful reschedule, and local logistics (drive-time, halfway suggestions, dog-friendly toggles). | Product (Core) + Design (UX) + Engineering (Mobile & Maps) | MVP (timeslots + reminders) in 6–8 weeks; drive-time/halfway in 12 weeks | Maps/Places API, Notification service, Experimentation framework, Local venue data/partnerships (optional) |
| 3 | Conversation Quality System | Ship constrained, ultra-specific prompts; require photo captions; add one-tap contextual openers and comment-on-prompt replies; expand audio/quick intro video with abuse prevention. | Product (Profiles/Chat) + Design (Content) + Trust & Safety | Wave 1 in 6–8 weeks; iterate bi-weekly | Content moderation heuristics, Prompt library + localization, Media processing limits |
| 4 | Monetization reset + anti-gamification | Retire manipulative upsells (gated likes/confetti); launch a clear single-tier plan and optional day passes. Align incentives to outcomes, not swipes. | Monetization PM + Finance + Legal/Policy | Pricing page + cancel flow in 4–6 weeks; full plan changes in 8–12 weeks | Billing systems, Legal TOS/renewal compliance, Experimentation + revenue guardrails, Comms plan |
| 5 | Rural/Low-bandwidth & Local Reality | Low-data mode (compressed media, text-first), offline drafts, accurate distance/drive-time filters, and meet-halfway preference. Respect small-town dynamics. | Engineering (Mobile/Infra) + Product (Discovery) | Low-data + drafts in 8 weeks; drive-time filters in 12–14 weeks | CDN/media pipeline, Maps/traffic data, QA on poor connectivity, UX content for rural contexts |
| 6 | “Designed to be deleted” proof and transparency | Publish monthly outcome metrics, add in-app deletion receipts, minimize re-engagement nudges, and show moderation actions transparently (aggregate). | Data Science/Analytics + Marketing/Comms + Legal/Policy | First public metrics + in-app receipts in 8–10 weeks | Analytics instrumentation, Data governance/privacy, Brand/PR approvals, Lifecycle messaging audit |
KPIs to Track
| # | KPI | Definition | Target | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Match-to-plan speed | Median days from match to scheduled plan or video call | <= 7 days | Weekly |
| 2 | First-message rate | Percent of mutual matches with a first message within 24 hours | >= 60% | Weekly |
| 3 | Verification adoption | Percent of WAU with successful photo/ID verification | >= 70% within 3 months | Weekly |
| 4 | Respectful closures | Percent of chats closed via polite pass or scheduled plan (vs. abandonment) | >= 50% | Weekly |
| 5 | Abuse response SLA | Median time from report to action on safety violations | < 24 hours | Weekly |
| 6 | Pricing trust signal | Support tickets about pricing/auto-renew per 1k WAU | -50% vs baseline | Weekly |
Risks & Mitigations
| # | Risk | Mitigation | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verification friction reduces signups/conversions | Stage verification (photo at signup, ID pre-meet), clear benefits messaging, and grace-period funnels; A/B test thresholds. | Growth PM + Trust & Safety |
| 2 | Privacy/regulatory exposure from IDV and safety data | Privacy impact assessment, data minimization, regional controls, vendor DPAs, and user-facing transparency. | Legal/Policy + Security |
| 3 | Reputation/flake signals create bias or are gamed | Private, behavior-only inputs (no looks), rate-limiting, appeal/review process, and regular fairness audits. | Trust & Safety + Data Science |
| 4 | Revenue dip after removing engagement-driven upsells | Phased experiments, introduce day passes/single-tier plan, tie value to outcomes, set revenue guardrails. | Monetization PM + Finance |
| 5 | Maps/drive-time data inaccuracies harm UX in rural areas | Multi-provider fallback, user feedback on routes, simple distance fallback when confidence is low. | Engineering (Maps) + QA |
| 6 | Operational load for Spanish support/localization | Staggered rollout, outsourced queue SLAs, prioritized strings (safety, pricing, delete), community review for tone. | CX/Localization |
Timeline
Weeks 4–8: Audio intro, Conversation Quality v1 (specific prompts, captions, contextual openers).
Weeks 6–12: Meetflow MVP (timeslots/reminders), Monetization reset experiments.
Weeks 8–14: Safety & Verification 2.0 pilot; publish first transparency metrics/receipts.
Weeks 10–16: Rural/Low-data mode + drive-time/halfway; Meetflow logistics (halfway, dog-friendly toggles).
Ongoing: Iterate prompts, moderation heuristics, and transparency reports monthly.
Objective & Context
We set out to explore reactions to Hinge’s “designed to be deleted” positioning and identify product and messaging choices that resonate with singles. Across questions, participants liked human-first cues (prompts, curated flows) and said the slogan creates a brief, optimistic pull. Yet they were uniformly skeptical that a for‑profit app truly wants users to leave, citing upsells, engagement nudges, and opaque cancellations as the credibility gap. As Sara Maciel put it, “apps that profit from engagement do not cheer when you leave,” while Alexandra Zavala summarized the dominant mindset: “show me, don’t tell me.”
What We Heard (Cross‑Question Learnings)
- Safety with teeth: Real verification (selfie video/liveness, photo freshness) and clear moderation feedback are table stakes. Participants want quick report tools and visible action, not cosmetic badges (Zavala, Megan Whitaker).
- Time-respecting momentum: Tools that turn chat into plans fast-built‑in scheduling, propose times/places, respectful reschedules-are reasons to stay (Zavala; Karli Ponte).
- Anti-gamification and transparent pricing: Users reject boosts, gated likes, and auto‑renew dark patterns (“Hidden pay walls… Bye.” – Courtney Roman). Clear value and easy cancel/delete are essential.
- High-signal conversation primitives: 10–20s audio or quick intro video to reveal tone, ultra‑specific prompts, and photo-context hooks increase confidence to reach out (Roman; Ponte).
- Local reality and logistics: Accurate distance caps, drive‑time/halfway suggestions, and low‑bandwidth mode matter, especially outside dense cities (Ponte; Megan Whitaker; Celina Wolfe).
- Proof behind “designed to be deleted”: Participants ask for transparency metrics (median time to first date, percent who delete after committing) and respectful, frictionless opt‑out flows (Maciel).
Persona Correlations & Nuances
- Spanish-speaking/Hispanic: Bilingual UX, plain‑language safety/account controls, and culturally relevant fields build trust (Zavala, Roman, Maciel).
- Rural/small‑town: Low‑data mode, strict distance enforcement, drive‑time/halfway options, and local filters reduce wasted effort (Ponte, Whitaker, Wolfe).
- Caregivers/parents: Predictable daytime scheduling, quiet hours, and flake accountability lower cognitive load (Roman, Wolfe, Ponte).
- Faith‑oriented users: Explicit practice/availability fields and daytime/faith‑friendly plans reduce mismatches (Wolfe, Whitaker).
- Higher‑education professionals: Demand measurable proof-verification evidence, moderation outcomes, and time‑to‑plan KPIs (Zavala, Maciel, Whitaker).
- Younger late‑20s: Prefer curated, capped matches, anti‑ghosting nudges, and short audio/video intros for faster offline momentum (Ponte, Maciel).
Recommendations to Make the Promise Credible
- Safety & Verification 2.0: Selfie video liveness, photo freshness checks, ban‑evasion detection, and in‑app date safety (share‑a‑plan, check‑ins) with clear moderation receipts.
- Meetflow (in‑chat scheduling): One‑tap propose‑3‑times, reminders, respectful reschedule, plus drive‑time/halfway suggestions and dog‑friendly toggles.
- Conversation Quality System: Constrained, specific prompts; required photo captions; one‑tap contextual openers; optional 10‑second audio/quick intro video.
- Monetization reset: Retire manipulative upsells; offer a clear single‑tier plan and optional day passes; one‑tap cancel/delete.
- Rural/low‑bandwidth mode: Compressed media, text‑first profiles, offline drafts, and enforced distance caps.
Risks & Safeguards
- Verification friction: Stage requirements (photo at signup, ID before meeting) and message benefits; A/B thresholds.
- Privacy/regulatory exposure: Data minimization, regional controls, vendor DPAs, user‑facing transparency.
- Reputation/flake bias: Private, behavior‑only signals with appeals and fairness audits.
- Revenue dip post upsell removal: Phase changes, introduce day passes, tie value to outcomes.
- Maps accuracy in rural areas: Multi‑provider fallback and user feedback on routes.
Next Steps & Measurement
- Weeks 0–4: Ship polite pass templates, quiet hours, strict distance caps, transparent pricing + one‑tap cancel; add priority Spanish safety/account flows.
- Weeks 4–8: Launch optional 10‑second audio intro; roll out specific prompts, captions, contextual openers.
- Weeks 6–12: Meetflow MVP (propose times + reminders); begin monetization reset experiments.
- Weeks 8–14: Pilot Safety & Verification 2.0; publish initial transparency metrics/deletion receipts.
- Weeks 10–16: Low‑data mode, drive‑time/halfway logistics, dog‑friendly planning.
- Guardrail KPIs: Match‑to‑plan ≤ 7 days; First‑message rate ≥ 60%; Verification adoption ≥ 70% (3 months); Respectful closures ≥ 50%; Abuse response SLA < 24h.
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Which message would most/least motivate you to try a dating app? Use the following statements: Designed to be deleted (built for real relationships); Fewer, higher‑quality matches curated to your values; Real people with verified profiles and safety tools; Less swiping, faster plans to a real date; Transparent pricing with no hidden paywalls; You control the pace with quiet hours and caps.maxdiff Identify the value proposition that resonates most to guide headline and ad creative prioritization.
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Which proof points would make you believe a dating app truly wants you to succeed and leave? Select all that apply: Independent audit of outcomes; Aggregate “deletions after success” counter; Easy, respectful delete/export flow; Public moderation/ban statistics; Transparent algorithm explainers; Refund/credit if no date in X days; Third‑party safety certification.multi select Determine which evidence to feature in-product and marketing to bolster credibility of the promise.
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How acceptable are the following monetization models for a dating app? Rate each: Flat monthly subscription with core features; Free tier plus à la carte boosts/likes; Outcome‑aligned plan with credits/refunds if no progress; Tiered plans that include verification for all; Free with ads and no boosts; One‑time lifetime unlock.matrix Inform pricing strategy by identifying models that feel fair versus manipulative while sustaining revenue.
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How willing would you be to complete each verification method during onboarding? Rate: Government ID check; Real‑time liveness video selfie; Periodic re‑verification every 90 days; Optional background check badge; Two‑factor authentication for login; Social media handle verification.matrix Prioritize safety methods that users will actually complete to balance trust and friction.
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How do these anti‑ghosting features feel on a spectrum from respectful to intrusive? Rate: Gentle nudge after 48 hours; One‑tap polite close template; Auto‑closing chats after X days of inactivity; Showing a response‑rate badge; De‑prioritizing repeat ghosters; Requiring a short reply to continue matching.semantic differential Set anti‑ghosting defaults and tone that reduce churn without triggering backlash.
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What is the maximum number of new matches per week that feels manageable to you?numeric Calibrate curated match caps and batching to reduce overwhelm and increase perceived quality.
Main insights: Hinge’s human-first prompts feel helpful and the slogan sparks hope, but credibility erodes with boosts, gated likes, FOMO nudges, and opaque algorithms; users want proof via transparent outcome metrics, deletion receipts, and respectful opt-outs. Conversation confidence rises with ultra-specific prompts tied to photos, 10–20s audio/quick intro video, intent/deal-breaker badges, one-tap scheduling (with drive-time/halfway logic), anti-ghosting rails, low-data mode, and bilingual support; stand-out ideas include strict match caps, quiet reputation/flake signals, and dog-friendly/local logistics. Takeaways: Prioritize Verification 2.0 and in-app safety, ship in-chat scheduling plus polite-pass closures, enforce hard distance caps with rural-friendly drive-time and low-bandwidth mode, and reset monetization/lifecycle to be transparent and non-gamified-then publish outcome KPIs to make “designed to be deleted” credible and reduce churn.
| Name | Response | Info |
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