Hinge Users Report AI-Generated Profile Photos

A Hinge user reported noticing inconsistencies in a profile photo, prompting a reverse image search that revealed the images were AI-generated. The profile, posing as Johnno, used deepfaked photos from Pinterest.

The user shared the experience on TikTok, where it gained over 1.2 million views. Comments revealed other users had encountered similar issues, with multiple profiles using the same flannel shirt and linen pants against the same beachfront background.

Dating experts note the trend is growing as AI becomes more prevalent in dating apps. Amy Chan, a dating coach, says her clients are increasingly encountering AI-altered images and conversations.

Pew Research data from 2023 shows more than half of adults under 30 use dating apps, and 2026 data from Match and the Kinsey Institute found nearly four in 10 U.S. singles have used AI in their dating lives. Gen Z singles are particularly affected, with 67% using AI.

Dating apps are responding by introducing verification tools, such as Seeking.com’s Selfie Liveness Check, which caught 53,000 scammers in 2025. Tinder and Bumble also require biometric face checks for U.S. users.

Hinge offers optional AI features and a Face Check verification process. However, users warn that AI can still bypass verification by altering subtle elements of real photos, raising privacy and authenticity concerns.