Most dating apps are getting very expensive yet they are struggling to provide their users with access to a variety of desirable people.
Right now I've got 1000 likes on Hinge that I can't even see because I'm not willing to shell out $80+ for a stupid dating app. So instead of lowering their prices or even giving out trials once someone say, hits a certain number of likes, these apps just populate their system with bots to make it seem like there are more active users than there really are.
This is because a lot of them are so restrictive on free features that most users CAN'T be very active at all without paying basically for another cellphone line per month.
I know there has to be at least one person I'd really be into in all those likes but I can't see them, which is how they coerce you to shell out your money. At the same time, all the people who sit there and like other users' profiles and never get a response will become more insecure and disillusioned and will give up on the app as well. I think the high restrictions artificially cause people to think they are completely unwanted when it's not true.
I think this is why Tinder, despite being one of the trashiest apps, is one of the most successful. You aren't super restricted if you don't pay but you do get bonus perks if you choose to pay.
