The dating app has released a new ‘voice prompt’ feature which allows people to answer prompts on your profile with a 30-second audio recording.
Additionally, Hinge has also added voice notes to its in-app messaging feature so people can send an audio message whilst chatting with their matches.
‘Oh, this is a bad idea,’ was Michala Zappitelli’s first reaction to it. ‘The feature was a bit odd for a dating app because when I use voice notes, it’s to my closest friends and only when it’s inconvenient to text,’ she said.
64% of Hinge users said that a potential match’s voice was an important factor in determining if they liked them, whether it’s giving them ‘the ick’ or butterflies.
‘I definitely think it’s affected whether I swipe right or left on a profile. I can’t believe people would record something like that and post it to their profile, and it changes my initial opinion of them,’ said 23-year-old Zappitelli.
‘Sitting down and recording yourself speaking feels embarrassing to me and it’s definitely caused me to swipe left on people I might not have otherwise,’ said Charlotte Hancock, 24.