According to Hinge your account can’t and won’t be banned for no reason. But, there’s a different narrative to this story if you take real Hinge users’ opinions and experiences.
A lot of people, including me, think that Hinge can ban people for no reason. You’ll hear the argument on this in just a bit.
Although there are plenty of legible reasons to get banned, Hinge can get rid of accounts simply because they’re inconvenient to the app.
In this article, we’ll explore in detail the many possible reasons for a Hinge ban, but also, the possibilities to get a Hinge ban for no reason.
Is it possible for Hinge to ban you for no reason?
Hinge has a long page that lists the terms of use and agreement. And surely, there are some interesting things in there if you read it in detail.
For example, Hinge says that you’re not eligible to use the app if you’re not looking for a meaningful relationship.
If you’re so surprised by this, it most likely means you haven’t ever read the terms of Hinge.
However, let’s consider people who truly did nothing to violate any of the Hinge terms. They just get banned.
And for as long as I’ve been observing on this matter, there seems to be a pattern of some sort:
I used the app normally, respected all Hinge’s rules, contacted my matches as usual; woke up one day, banned.
It looks like Hinge is, in fact, banning users for no reason. This would seem very irrational from one viewpoint, yet rational from another.
- This could be Hinge rooting out plain inconvenient users since they’re being passive (i.e. not getting any premium services).
- It could be a glitch in the app.
- Hinge might be selecting particular(passive) users to remove when the system is overloaded.
Obviously, these are just logical speculations since Hinge hasn’t come up with anything official regarding this overly-addressed and discussed issue.
Letting the speculations aside:
You might’ve been banned for a reason after all. Hear me out!
Now, reasons to get banned from Hinge can be numerous, but we’ll go through some that perhaps didn’t cross your mind, hence believing you got banned for no reason.
Here’s why Hinge may have banned you instead of no reason:
1. You did something that violated Hinge’s terms be it directly or indirectly.
Clearly, if you mess around with Hinge’s terms, you’ll secure yourself a solid ban on the app.
If you haven’t already read Hinge’s terms you’re expected to be yourself, not use violent language, be over 18, use the app responsibly, etc.
The list is very lengthy, hence, you must read it to see if you’ve done something that you weren’t supposed to.
2. Someone revenge-reported you. Yes, it’s a thing.
People are capable of doing many things. You’d think someone wouldn’t waste their precious time on revenge-reporting you on Hinge.
Well, you’re wrong.
Some people have many accounts on Hinge and use them in twisted ways.
If you were seen as competition, these people would use their many accounts to report you, to get you banned from Hinge to increase their odds of matching.
Yes, truly, it is a thing, and I’ve witnessed it happening.
3. You weren’t looking for a meaningful connection on Hinge.
One of Hinge’s demands for you to be on the app is for you to be looking for a meaningful connection (here’s the link where Hinge says that).
As shocking as it sounds, you can get banned from Hinge because you’re looking for a short-term fling or a one-night stand.
Hinge can determine that through various ways. For example, the way you chat with your matches.
There it goes. Another ‘random’ thing you didn’t know can get you banned from Hinge!
4. You didn’t go out with your matches.
If you’re not giving any signs that you’re not going out with your matches anytime soon, instead of waiting for you to delete the app, Hinge will delete you from it.
Not going out with your matches can mean to Hinge that you’re not planning on creating anything meaningful (i.e. that you’re using the app to play around).
This way, Hinge sees you as ‘a waste of time’ for the rest of its users and decides to ban you altogether.
5. Hinge thought you didn’t show your face on your profile.
One of Hinge’s mandatory requirements is that you include at least one picture of your face on your Hinge profile.
Now, it’s logical for companies to have their apps managed by technology and AI, especially when it comes to highly used apps such as Hinge.
The bots probably couldn’t detect a face on your pictures, hence marking your profile with a red flag, and perhaps leading to an automatic ban from the app.
6. You got banned from a Match Group app (e.g. Tinder).
Hinge’s developer is Match Group, also the developer of many other popular dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid.
It can feel shocking, I know. But this is not a speculation that’s roaming around the internet. It’s actually clearly written in Hinge’s terms:
“[You’re authorized to create a Hinge account if] You have not previously been removed from our Services or our affiliates’ services by us or our affiliates unless you have our express written permission to create a new account.”
Simply put, if you’ve previously been removed from Hinge’s affiliates’ services, which in this case can be Match Group apps, you won’t be allowed on the app.
If you want to get back on Hinge, you’ve got two options.
Unfortunately, Hinge bans are permanent. But, fortunately, you can do something about it.
As I said above, you’ve got two options to go about this:
- Create a new account with entirely new details, phone, a Hinge phone number, pictures, and IP address.
- Write a ban appeal to Hinge or ask them permission to create a new account on the app.
If you’re skeptical about either option, you can always hop on other dating apps.
Just make sure to read the terms of use, and that they’re not a Match Group dating app, since you risk getting another ban.
You have the right to file a complaint about Hinge on Better Business Bureau.
Hinge has a lot of complaints about BBB, yet it seems to address most of them.
For those of you who don’t know what BBB is, Better Business Bureau is an organization working on helping consumers and customers to have better and clearer information regarding companies and products.
For example, Hinge’s profile on BBB, as you may have already imagined, has horrible reviews, and over 6,000 complaints in a span of 3 years.
The thing is, those complaints —a lot of them— get addressed. And this could be your chance to either
- Get your account back,
- Get permission to create a new account on Hinge,
- Or to ruin Hinge's reputation even further by warning potential users of the app’s injustice.
According to Hinge’s users, Hinge is kind of a snob.
This is the bottom line. Not selective. Borderline snobs.
While some enjoy their experience of being active on Hinge, others are trying to find ways to get back on it.
Is it unfair to simply ban a user of the app with no reason or explanation? Absolutely.
Does Hinge seem to be bothered? Absolutely not.
This is all the facts and speculations until we've something official from HInge.
Until then, stay safe!
Liam.
Leave a Reply