Are you struggling to find love online?
Scientists have revealed where you’re probably going wrong.
A new study has uncovered nine different types of profile photos that singletons tend to use – and what they convey about you to fellow daters.
Some singletons opt for ‘casual poser’ snaps, according to the researchers, while some prefer shots that show off their love for nature.
Others choose to show ‘a bit of myself’, while some even adopt a ‘nothing to hide’ pose – usually in skimpy outfits or topless.
So, which of these will help you to find love, and which will unintentionally hinder you chances?
‘Your profile should first and foremost appeal to you and reflect who you are,’ said Alejandro García Alamán, a psychologist at The Open University of Catalonia in Spain.
‘If you want to add a touch of authenticity, you can include something slightly different that feels genuinely yours.’
Dr García Alamán was inspired to carry out the research after talking to his own patients.
‘I detected a growing unease among users of dating apps, similar to burnout at work. And it was this combination of disappointment, boredom and depersonalisation, because all Tinder profiles were alike, that led me to investigate what was going on,’ he said.
For the study, the team analysed 1,000 real Tinder profiles based in Barcelona.
Their findings, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, revealed that far from being unique, most users opt for one of a nine visual strategies.
But the researchers argue that these strategies do not reflect who we are as much as who we think we should be in order to be liked.
‘Choosing a strategy based on social desirability strips us of authenticity and blurs our identity as individuals,’ Dr García Alamán said.
‘It protects us, but at the same time it stereotypes us.’
Some of the photo types are obvious – those who choose photographs where they are out and about in nature are hoping to convey an active, healthy lifestyle, the researchers said.
Some people (left) have lamented about the use of sunglasses in dating app photos. Experts say it functions as a ‘form of protection’. Meanwhile, dating coach Mathew Hyman (right) says featuring a ‘lifestyle’ picture can help boost your dating app profile
The ‘casual poser’ photo, which shows someone looking in a different direction, can make you seem spontaneous and friendly, they explained.
Meanwhile someone wearing glasses might be trying to conceal a part of themselves, by using them as a form of protection.
Those who use a generic ‘screensaver’ picture – for example an image of a quote or landscape – are likely to be older.
However the ones who use ‘nothing to hide’ images, which feature a high degree of nudity, could unwittingly be signaling a desire for casual hookups.
‘Clusters associated with high levels of nudity accounted for only 10 per cent of the sample, contrasting with Tinder’s reputation as a ‘hookup’ platform,’ the team said.
They explained that younger cohorts – especially women – tended to include photos that showed more skin, which generally decreased as age increased.
However, an ‘exception’ was observed among individuals aged 30–39, who presented the highest amount of nudity in their first pictures.
‘Although a definitive explanation for this result remains unclear, one possible interpretation could be related to the perceived self–image within this age range,’ the researchers said.
‘This cohort represents adults transitioning between youth and middle age, during which appreciation of physical appearance still persist.’
Other popular image types used include the ‘half portrait’, which accounted for a quarter of the profiles analysed. This is the most ‘socially acceptable presentation’ of a person, the authors said.
Close–up shots and partial–body images could be attempts to conceal your appearance.
The researchers also found that sexual orientation had an influence on the type of photos used.
Among straight profiles, women smiled more and appeared with less clothing, showing off more of their whole body, while men are more action or nature–oriented and show less of their bodies.
The results also reveal that lesbian women show less of their bodies and smile less than heterosexuals, while gay men look at the camera and smile more than heterosexuals.
While they didn’t directly investigate which photos have the most success on dating apps, Dr García Alamán said: ‘We suspect that some types of images may be more successful than others.
‘Beyond physical attractiveness, an important factor may be the implicit message a photo conveys. For example, images can signal humour, social or professional success, health, or an active lifestyle.’
