Why you should update your old dating app profile photos ASAP

Daters: It might be time to spring clean your dating app profile. More than 50% of young Americans have gone on a date with someone who looked different from their profile photos, according to a new survey from dating app Hily. That’s led 54% of Gen Z and 62% of Millennial daters to either end a date early or decline a second one, Hily found after surveying 3,700 dating app users earlier this month. “For a variety of reasons, quite a few people don’t regularly update their profile pics, some not even when their looks change,” the company wrote in an accompanying blog post. “Women tend to be afraid of being judged for their appearance, while men feel like the content of their profile doesn’t make a difference. A lot of women and men just don’t know what to put in their profiles.” About 10% of daters admitted they’re “unlikely to change their profile pics, even if their appearance changes.” But that’s a small share overall: Hily said 84% of women and 83% of men have updated their profiles within the past six months. Still, many young daters will say their pictures may not be 100% true to reality. The survey found that around 45% of Gen Z and 33% of Millennials view their own profile pictures as close to their actual looks, but not quite there. This likely fits into the broader public sentiment of users being dismayed with dating apps. According to a 2023 Pew survey, online daters are relatively divided over whether their experiences on the apps have been either positive or negative. If you go on enough dates with people you weren’t expecting to go on dates with (a.k.a.: you were catfished), you’ll likely become a bit jaded with the experience. Take this as your sign to double-check your profile—and maybe swap out a few photos while you’re at it.

Apr 14, 2025 - 18:54

Daters: It might be time to spring clean your dating app profile.

More than 50% of young Americans have gone on a date with someone who looked different from their profile photos, according to a new survey from dating app Hily.

That’s led 54% of Gen Z and 62% of Millennial daters to either end a date early or decline a second one, Hily found after surveying 3,700 dating app users earlier this month.

“For a variety of reasons, quite a few people don’t regularly update their profile pics, some not even when their looks change,” the company wrote in an accompanying blog post. “Women tend to be afraid of being judged for their appearance, while men feel like the content of their profile doesn’t make a difference. A lot of women and men just don’t know what to put in their profiles.”

About 10% of daters admitted they’re “unlikely to change their profile pics, even if their appearance changes.” But that’s a small share overall: Hily said 84% of women and 83% of men have updated their profiles within the past six months.

Still, many young daters will say their pictures may not be 100% true to reality. The survey found that around 45% of Gen Z and 33% of Millennials view their own profile pictures as close to their actual looks, but not quite there.

This likely fits into the broader public sentiment of users being dismayed with dating apps. According to a 2023 Pew survey, online daters are relatively divided over whether their experiences on the apps have been either positive or negative. If you go on enough dates with people you weren’t expecting to go on dates with (a.k.a.: you were catfished), you’ll likely become a bit jaded with the experience.

Take this as your sign to double-check your profile—and maybe swap out a few photos while you’re at it.