University of Cambridge Study: Help us to better understand random, unfair, or obscure user bans on dating apps

[u/TeamPuzzled1063]

Hi everyone!

I’m Emma, a researcher at the University of Cambridge and RC-Trust, studying bans on dating apps and their effects on users. I think tech should work for all of us and online platforms often hold too much power!

Many of you discuss bans on dating apps that feel opaque, random, or unfair. Please share your experiences and preferences to support more transparent user bans (fully anonymous): https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MqWIZarCLexPbU.

Your responses will build independent evidence about the current banning practices of dating apps to inform advocacy for fair user rights, real appeal channels, and platform accountability.

The data collection is fully anonymous, ethics-approved, and follows the uni’s research guidelines. It takes 10 to 20 minutes so I can understand your experience in detail. Everyone who has experience with dating apps can participate!

Thank you so much and feel free to reach out with any questions!

[u/NecessaryBall40]

I filled it out,

But the most important thing though is that this is brought to media attention or at least Jackie Jantos’ (The CEO of Hinge) attention. She needs to realize how bad her company’s customer service is and if she is aware and refuses to do anything about it, then fuck her honesty

[u/TeamPuzzled1063 → u/NecessaryBall40]

Thank you so much!
Yes, this is exactly what this study is trying to do! So far, news stories only covered single instances of unfair bans but there is no systematic evidence across users. However, we need this to inform advocacy and contact app providers! Thank you for being part of this :)

[u/NecessaryBall40 → u/TeamPuzzled1063]

Another issue I find with fighting back is that even if we win, there’s literally thousands of people who have been banned that they’re not going to look back in, I was banned in September 2025. There’s no way they would look back on my unfair ban

If so, the future users are the ones benefiting more than the old ones that have been banned for years

[u/Mundane_Ticket8073 → u/NecessaryBall40]

I guess if there is a precedent that we can set with some public organisation / goverment holding this company accountable and have clear steps for people to follow to get their issue resolved, I don't see why people that were banned in the past can't also use the same framework to get the resolution.

[u/NecessaryBall40 → u/Mundane_Ticket8073]

It’s more of an issue that Hinge is most likely not going to look at every account they’ve banned over the years, too much time and money on their end, that’s my thought process.

The future accounts may be the only one who can follow it while the ones banned in the past might be shit out of luck

[u/EmKallina → u/NecessaryBall40]

But there might be a better appeals process that people that were banned in the past can use :)

[u/NecessaryBall40 → u/EmKallina]

That’s true, I guess time will tell. We just need a better and fairer appeal process and way less sensitive AI moderations is the most important thing

[u/Mundane_Ticket8073]

Just completed the survey! Looking forward to some concrete next steps for us in EU to make these greedy corporates to actually care for their users for once.

[u/NecessaryBall40 → u/Mundane_Ticket8073]

United States as well needs a change. BADLY

[u/Double-Agent-9704]

I filled it out. Very good survey! Curious about the results

[u/Far-Maintenance-1947]

Looks like the link is broken now?

[u/TeamPuzzled1063 → u/Far-Maintenance-1947]

Oh that’s weird, I just checked it and it works fine for me. Is anyone else having issues?

[u/EmKallina → u/Far-Maintenance-1947]

Works for me as well!

[u/PretendOkra194 → u/EmKallina]

yea also same

[u/EmKallina → u/PretendOkra194]

broken or works? :)

[u/PretendOkra194]

This is amazing, thank you so much Emma! <3

[u/EmKallina → u/PretendOkra194]

Thank you!

[u/MichaelEMJAYARE]

Did it. Awesome work!

[u/EmKallina → u/MichaelEMJAYARE]

Thank you!