Hinge says Gen Z is craving more flirting this year, with social media mentions of "how to flirt" up 45% year over year and Hinge Prompt mentions of "flirt" up 31% globally over the past six months. Yet the dating app's new research finds that while 70% of Gen Z daters rate themselves good or excellent flirts, 67% hesitate to flirt on dating apps and 70% hesitate when meeting in person.
Hinge's newsroom release points to the fear of being cringe. It also says 84% of Gen Z daters rewrite their flirty texts at least some of the time.
The people on the receiving end, though, aren't grading on polish. Hinge says 65% of Gen Z daters would rather someone flirt a little awkwardly but make their interest obvious than be smooth and leave it unclear.
The hardest part, per Hinge, isn't technique. Gen Z daters were 88% more likely to say knowing whether flirting is welcome is harder than knowing how to flirt. Still, 79% say good flirting makes dating more fun.
Flirting is also no fun as a solo act. Hinge says 57% of Gen Z daters have stopped flirting because they felt they were doing all the work. The company's fix is what it calls "matching energy," meaning you meet someone's enthusiasm and give something back. Specificity helps too: 42% of Gen Z daters said a specific, playful comment makes them more interested in getting to know someone, while only 13% said a compliment on their appearance alone made them want to grow a connection.
Hinge's own social listening backs up the appetite. The company says social mentions of "how to flirt" are up 45% year over year, and mentions of "flirt" in Hinge Prompt answers rose 31% globally over the past six months.
Hinge's suggested method for turning interest into conversation has three steps: notice, build, return.
Moe Ari Brown, Hinge's love and connection expert and a licensed therapist, said daters fixate on a shaky voice or a message they stared at before sending, but "the other person is mostly registering that you stepped forward."
"My invitation to daters is to let yourself be present and take the step, nerves and all," Brown said. "The other person will notice your bravery long before they notice your nerves."