AI-Generated Photos On Dating Apps Raise Ethical Concerns, Prompting A Shift Towards Real-life Interactions For Authenticity.
Nothing seemed odd about his profile at first glance: he was based in London, early thirties, a young professional. But scrolling down his Hinge, something seemed off. It might have been the overly blurry background in one picture, or the jarring, nondescript cityscapes in the other two. Though it was probably the fact that, in these particular photos, he was objectively – undeniably – better looking than in the rest. His skin was smoother. He was taller, broader. He had a head of thicker, more luscious hair.
“I was feeling cheeky, so I messaged him: ‘Is this AI?’” says Anna, who came across the profile. “He was like, ‘Yeah, can you tell?’ I found it slightly unnerving. Then I felt worried for other women, who might not be so media literate and able to notice.”
Anna’s not the only one who’s come across suspicious-looking pics on the apps recently: the use of AI-generated photos is, unsurprisingly, on the rise. Just yesterday, I matched with a guy on Tinder who admitted his third picture – a professional-looking, overly-saturated headshot – was made with the photo enhancer app Remini AI, because it was “easier and cheaper” than a proper photoshoot. The same day, I saw another (admittedly much more bizarre) profile of a truck driver with impossibly veiny arms and fingers which looked like they were melting – all of the photos radiating that same artificial, Sim-like quality.
In some ways, AI-generated pictures are just the latest iteration of Photoshop, filters, and Facetune. But while people have been altering their photos since Grindr changed the dating game back in 2009, it’s safe to say the advance of AI is making things far more complex. There’s a whole host of ethical issues to consider here. Where’s the line between tweaking your appearance and straight up manipulating someone? What about that photo on my Hinge from 2019, when I was more tanned, toned and had thick, long hair (as opposed to my overgrown bob and begging-for-Vitamin D skin right now)? Is that really so different from using Remini AI? And what does this all mean for the more sinister, Tinder Swindler side of dating apps? Can you still be a catfish if the photos are technically created using you?
Hayley Bystram, a London-based dating coach who runs a matchmaking service, says she’s seen an increase in people using highly edited photos of themselves on dating profiles. “Enhancing a photograph without critically changing your appearance will help better your chances [in dating],” she says. “The line is where you’re making yourself look drastically different: that’s a betrayal. A relationship is based on honesty and authenticity, and if you’re starting on the back foot, it’s a waste of everyone’s time.”
She believes people upload edited photographs in a bid to beat the algorithms – the idea is that, if your profile is better looking, you’ll be shown more attractive people in return – which is indicative of a wider issue regarding the design of the apps and their respective business models. (Three months ago, a lawsuit was filed by six dating app users against Match Group, accusing Tinder, Hinge and other apps of using addictive product features to drive “expensive subscriptions and perpetual use”.)
As AI personas become more common, there's a shift toward real-life dating events. People are seeking authentic connections in response to the potential for deception online.