From the beginning of the online dating era, apps have tried, and continue to revisit, ways to improve user profiles and, in turn, the overall experience. A dating profile can reveal a lot about someone if you pay close attention. If you’ve been on these dating apps for a while, certain things, such as your non-negotiables, become much easier to spot.
What would make a woman immediately swipe left? Patna-based 22-year-old fashion student Riya Agarwal says, “Any misogynistic or racist remark, joke, or meme in their profile, either as a picture or a prompt. Usually, people say such things as a joke, but, to me it reveals their ignorance and oblivion, which instantly puts me off. And, unfortunately, this is pretty common.” A recent study by dating app Bumble found a clear shift towards people being more upfront about what they want, choosing partners who align with their values, and engaging in conversations that feel safe, respectful, and authentic.
Dolly Bagaria, a 28-year-old engineer from Bengaluru, reveals, “People sharing sob stories about their past relationships immediately turns me off.” Why would you want to date someone who is still carrying baggage?
Bumble’s survey also found that, as women take greater control of their dating journeys, safety remains a critical priority. It states, “80% prefer interacting only with verified profiles, highlighting the importance of accountability and safer digital environments,.
Dating app Tinder has found that 64% of young singles most want emotional honesty in dating right now. Its study also shows that 73% say they only know they truly like someone when they can be themselves.
Of course, a dating profile won’t tell you everything. Given the times we live in, profiles are often performative and carefully curated, and they rarely translate to a great experience once you meet the person behind them. A profile “often tells us less about the person and more about how they want to be perceived,” agrees Delhi-based counselling psychologist and UNESCO-certified expressive arts therapist Pankhuri Sharma.
“When people aren’t clear on what they want, they present versions of themselves that feel more acceptable or impressive,” adds Gurgaon-based
Dr Chandni Tugnait, who is Tinder India’s relationships expert. “Performative dating is rooted in identity uncertainty.”
Decades of relationship research has consistently shown that qualities such as mutual respect, emotional responsiveness, and healthy communication are much stronger predictors of long-term relationship satisfaction than surface-level compatibility. “A dating profile cannot confirm whether someone truly possesses these qualities, but I believe it can sometimes hint at whether they value them,” Pankhuri points out.
If you want to “do it for the plot,” the world is your oyster; and no experience is too crazy as long as you’re safe.
The Red Flag List
If you know what you want, and you’re looking for something tangible, real, and lasting, these red flags are worth noticing on dating app profiles to help you find the right fish in the sea
Barely Clothed In Every Picture
One thirst trap is probably fine, but every single photo should not be a gym mirror selfie with the same vacant stare.
Dark Humour As A Personality
“We’ll get along if you can take dark jokes” – in reality, this is probably an indicator of someone rude with low EQ.
Professional Roasters
Some profiles say roasting is their “love language.” This just might be a sign of insensitivity. Women you want to date are not your bros; you can’t roast them and call it flirting.
AI-Generated Prompts
Look for originality. The person who relies on AI won’t know what to say when they meet you in real life.
Suspiciously Close To The Gender They Want To Date (In Pictures)
It’s giving suspicious. The boundaries they have with the gender they want to date might not be as clear as you’d hope.
Only Group Photos
Which one are you! If someone doesn’t have good solo pictures, they need to work at cropping. Group photos come across as deceptive and might suggest a lack of confidence or an attempt to hide in a crowd.
Wannabe Quirky Energy
Someone carrying a tote bag as an aesthetic instead of having an actual personality is a hard pass. It’s giving performative.
Long Drives, Nothing More
“I love long drives and deep conversations.” Cool. But is there anything else? Hobbies? Opinions? That statement is way too open-ended.
Fitness Freak
Six gym photos, one protein shake pic, and zero warmth. You’d be dating a meal plan.
A Sunset And That’s It
One moody horizon photo with zero context. Is he poetic, or is he just avoiding showing his face?
Face Not Visible
Careful angles, shadows, caps, sunglasses in every single photo. It could be a sign of low confidence and sus at the same time. At least the eyes must be visible.
Ancient Pictures
That photo is from 2014, and a quick stalk of LinkedIn or other social media confirms it.
Height Written Explicitly
“6’2” – as if that could make up for the lack of personality.
Kids And Dogs As Bait
Borrowing a mate’s golden retriever or a niece for a cute picture doesn’t suddenly make him a family man.
The Mamma’s Boy
The “my mum is my best friend” vibe is sweet in theory, but chaotic in practice.
Guitar Players
Not all of them, of course, but you know the ones.
Deep Voices Or Deepfakes
If they’re leading with a voice note, or their face looks oddly suspicious, swipe left.
Instagram Handle In The Bio
They’re on the app looking for followers, not love.
Illustrations:Shutterstock