Stories

Thu, 04 Jun 2026

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 Single 20-somethings need AI to make first move on dating apps - Hinge boss

Jackie Jantos says loneliness and lack of confidence were challenges for young adults looking for relationships.

* Single people in their 20s lack confidence when it comes to online dating, according to Jackie Jantos, boss of Hinge.
* The lack of face-to-face social interactions during the Covid pandemic has contributed to this issue.
* Gen Z daters want love but are struggling to express themselves and start conversations on dating apps.
* Hinge's AI feature is designed to help users boost their confidence by generating prompts for conversations, not replacing human interaction.
* Despite warnings of "dating app burnout", Hinge continues to grow its UK user base, with 1.5 million adults using the app in May 2025.
* Gen Z are spending around 1,000 fewer hours per year socializing in person compared to their counterparts two decades ago.
* Almost half of Gen Z people in the UK now feel lonely "often or always".
* Experts agree that the pandemic has changed dating for Gen Z and that dating apps have not delivered on their promises.
* Hinge is committed to helping users find long-term relationships, rather than keeping them on the platform indefinitely.