Humour on Tinder: the key to success or the road to rejection?

Abstract

In the realm of online dating, humour is often seen as a powerful tool for making connections. This study examines the effects of humour in biographies and pick-up lines on online dating outcomes for young women on Tinder. Using an online experiment, 102 female participants were randomly exposed to eight Tinder profiles, including four with a humorous biography and four with a non-humorous biography. After each profile, participants were presented with a random pick-up line, also alternating between four humorous and four non-humorous options. This 2 x 2 within-subjects design allowed for the examination of different combinations of humorous and non-humorous biographies and pick-up lines. Surprisingly, a humorous biography alone did not yield significant positive outcomes, challenging the notion of humour as a guaranteed strategy for success. In contrast to previous research, humorous pick-up lines led to lower intentions to reply and lower long-term dating intentions. Moreover, combining a humorous biography and pick-up line did not significantly impact desired outcomes, suggesting that the interplay between humour in different aspects of one's online presence may not enhance overall success. The mediating role of perceived sense of humour was also not supported. These findings underscore the need for improved stimuli in online dating contexts and highlight the importance of considering factors beyond humour alone. The study acknowledges the ecological validity of the experiment and provides recommendations for future research, offering valuable insights into the complex nature of humour in the realm of online dating.