Title: Excluded from Hinge: When Dating Apps Cut You Off with No Explanation

When Mimi*, 22, was attending college, she set up a fake Hinge profile to report someone impersonating her then-boyfriend. At the time, she didn’t give it much thought. However, two years later, now single and residing in New York City, Mimi went back to Hinge to genuinely explore online dating—only to discover that she had been banned from the app.

She contacted Hinge, detailing her predicament in a brief appeal. She favored Hinge over other dating platforms such as Tinder, Bumble, and Raya, hoping to meet someone new there. Yet, her appeal received what she describes as a “mostly automated response,” informing her that the ban was permanent, with no additional explanation provided.

Mimi’s situation is not uncommon. In the last three years, over 15,000 complaints have been lodged against Hinge with the Better Business Bureau, many from users claiming they were unfairly banned. In just the previous year, more than 7,000 such complaints were filed. A majority of these users assert that their bans were without explanation and irreversible.

Karma, 23, from New Delhi, also encountered a ban from Hinge earlier this year. She suspects it may have stemmed from sending survey links to a few matches, which could have irritated them enough to file a report. “People report accounts out of sheer spite,” she states. “Hinge should conduct more thorough investigations before completely banning someone. At the very least, there should be a warning issued first.”

Tamika Young, Hinge’s VP of Global Communications, mentioned that the app prioritizes user safety and has protocols in place to maintain community integrity. “If someone thinks they were wrongfully removed, they can file an appeal,” Young states. “Each appeal is examined by a human moderator.” She also highlighted Hinge’s Help Center and Terms of Service, indicating that while some appeal outcomes include explanations, others do not.

Tinder, another prominent dating app under Match Group (which owns Hinge as well), employs a blend of AI and human moderation to uphold its guidelines. “We strive to minimize wrongful removals,” states Philip Price Fry, Tinder’s VP of Communications. Users can contest bans through the app’s Appeal Center.

While bans are often crucial in handling serious issues such as harassment or impersonation, they can also trap innocent users. Match Group has faced backlash for not banning users accused of sexual assault, even after direct complaints were made. A 2022 study by the Australian Institute of Criminology revealed that three out of four dating app users have encountered abuse on these platforms.

In response, apps have rolled out safety features like Tinder’s background checks and Hinge’s “Hidden Words” filter. However, these measures aimed at combating abuse may also contribute to a surge in seemingly arbitrary bans.

“Platforms are attempting to combat bots and inappropriate behavior,” remarks Liesel Sharabi, an associate professor at Arizona State University who researches technology and relationships. “That’s likely a reason bans have become more prevalent.”

Why Are Dating App Bans Increasing?

Across social media platforms like X and TikTok, users are sharing anecdotes about being banned from dating apps without understanding the reasons. Some suspect they fell victim to “revenge reporting” by exes or disgruntled matches. Others think they were flagged for ghosting or that their profiles were misidentified as bots. Even seemingly innocuous actions—such as setting up a second account, like Mimi did—can provoke a ban.

In certain instances, bans seem to be discriminatory. In 2019, trans users reported experiencing unfair bans from Tinder after being reported by others. Tinder later recognized the problem and committed to promoting inclusivity.

On Reddit’s r/SwipeHelper, a community for dating app users, complaints regarding bans—particularly from Hinge and Tinder—are widespread. Many users claim their appeals are fruitless, and some report being banned from both platforms at the same time.

Sharabi believes the underlying issue is a lack of transparency. “For some individuals, the reason for the ban is clear. But for others, it remains unclear,” she mentions. “They don’t know how to contest the decision or whom to contact. It’s a frustrating ordeal.”

Mimi concurs. While she endorses initiatives to eliminate bots and bad actors, she views the appeal process as flawed. “It genuinely feels like the responses are automated,” she shares. “If they’re putting so much effort into eliminating bots, they shouldn’t act like bots themselves.”

Solutions and the Growth of Ban Reversal Services

In light of the increasing number of bans, some users have resorted to inventive solutions. On TikTok and Reddit, individuals suggest employing a new phone number, email address, or even an alternative device to create a new account. Others seek out services like