11 Gen Z Daters Told Hinge What It’s Like to Flirt in 2026

Pronouns: Any

Age: 23

Location: DMV

On reading the signs: “I actually can never tell and it’s a problem; whenever I ask her for advice, my best friend says to just assume everybody is flirting with me, but instead I assume nobody is until explicitly stated otherwise

On being direct: “I think Hinge gives me the space to freely be as direct as I want in a way I’m usually not because there’s already an established mutual attraction with matches. When I’m really interested I compliment the person in some way and say something to signal I’m open to a date fairly quickly. I’m not that big of a texter so I prefer to meet and talk sooner rather than later, and because I’m a conversationalist, people usually feel comfortable around me fairly quickly.”

Pronouns: he/him

Age: 25

Location: Byron Bay, AUS

On flirting first or waiting for a signal: “Honestly, it depends. If I’m really attracted to someone, I’ll be openly flirty first. But most of the time I like to reciprocate. A clear signal makes me feel safe enough to flirt back. I’m not scared of making the first move, I just like knowing the move is welcome.”

On small signs of interest: “Where I live, there isn’t a huge queer scene, so when I’m into someone and I’m not sure about their sexuality, I wait for them to clarify. Maybe they mention they’re bi, or they’ve dated a guy, or they bring up an ex-boyfriend. The second I hear that, I’m confident enough to flirt back. I’m also a words-of-affirmation guy, so thoughtful compliments get me. I get complimented on my eyes a lot. And the little questions count too: ‘Are you seeing anyone?’ or ‘What are you up to later?’ That tells me they’re curious, and I can relax.”

Pronouns: she/her

Age: 24

Location: Los Angeles, CA 

How Gen Z flirts differently: “I think what older generations might find confusing is how much we try to act nonchalant even when we’re genuinely interested in someone. It’s almost like a game of showing just enough interest without being too obvious about it. There’s this unspoken pressure to seem interested but not too interested, which honestly makes dating more complicated than it needs to be.”

A small sign of interest that makes you confident enough to flirt back: “One of the biggest signs for me is when someone brings up going on a date or is quick to actually make plans. I find initiative really attractive because it shows that they’re genuinely interested rather than just entertaining a conversation. It almost feels like they’re putting one foot forward, which gives me the confidence to take a step closer, if that makes sense. I don’t necessarily need someone to make a huge romantic gesture, but I do appreciate when their intentions are clear. It makes me feel more comfortable flirting back because I know the interest is mutual.”

Pronouns: he/him

Age: 29

Location: London, UK

On flirting awkwardly, but making interest clear: “I think flirting can naturally be a little awkward, especially when you’re both trying to figure out whether the feeling is mutual. But I actually think there’s something quite fun about that stage of getting to know someone. Sometimes it’s nice to embrace those butterflies, not take everything too seriously and just enjoy seeing where things go.” 

On knowing when to flirt back: “For me, it was always about having that little bit of reassurance that the interest was mutual. In fact, with my current relationship, it was actually a friend who helped me realise there was interest on both sides. Having that extra insight gave me the confidence to approach things a little differently and feel more comfortable letting my personality come through.” 

Pronouns: she/her

Age: 24

Location: Philadelphia, PA

How they flirt: “I think just being sweet and kind is always the way. I like to ask people questions about themselves. I am curious about people, and if someone is curious about me, then it’s easy.” 

On flirting awkwardly, but making interest clear: “When this happens to me, I’m not going to lie, I relish it a little bit. I’m not evil, but it’s good to see people sweat sometimes. They don't know that I’m more laid-back yet, but in that brief interim where they aren’t privy to that, so many things feel possible, skewed, and awakened in both parties. That’s where the mystery lies, until it reaches a point in which you have to bring a little clarity to the situation. This is where being frank comes in and is the true superhero.” 

Pronouns: he/him

Age: 24

Location: Chicago, IL

On awkward flirting:  “I have! I think awkward flirting can be extremely endearing when done correctly. … I’ve been in situations where the other person was clearly interested but didn’t want to say the wrong thing or mess up their chances, and I found it to be very charming.”

On turning a prompt into a date: “With the purpose of Hinge being to find a successful connection and delete the app, I show my interest by being quick with my responses and guiding the conversation to topics that could naturally lead to suggesting a date idea. For example, one of my Hinge prompts is ‘This year I really want to find the best espresso martini in Chicago’. If I’m interested in someone, I’ll typically ask for their take on my prompt. If they name a place I’ve never been, it opens the door to suggesting we meet there for a drink. I prefer to be direct, as communicative as possible, and clearly interested in meeting in person when chatting with someone I’m into.”

Pronouns: she/her

Age: 26

Location: Melbourne, AUS 

On awkward flirting: “I find it quite endearing actually. If I feel like I have the power in the conversation, as in I feel like the confident one but I can tell they’re interested in me, I’ll try and give them reassurance that this is a 2 way street. Usually once the other person feels like this is reciprocal, the awkwardness slowly decimates. I love that awkward flirting moment though, it’s very nostalgic and I feel like it always ends up being really sexy in the end.”

On compliments: “I think when someone compliments something out of the ordinary; when I’m told that someone likes the way my mind works and that they like the way I make people feel. Conventional compliments never go unnoticed, but a compliment that shows me that they’re truly seeing me goes far beyond.”

Pronouns: she/they

Age: 22

Location: Los Angeles, CA 

How they flirt: “I would say I have something called “no rizz rizz.” It’s basically when you’re not the most smooth or suave, but the majority of your energy is focused on being yourself (and sprinkling in a little bit of cutesy awkwardness). I personally find the whole pick up lines and whatnot socially exhausting because I know in my day to day that isn’t something I’d do. So I’d rather focus that energy on highlighting the parts of myself that I like, and in turn, attracting people who like that!” 

On shared sense of humor: “I'm a huge SpongeBob fan so I regularly make a lot of references to the show (some more obscure than others). I went on a first date a couple of weeks ago, and I did my usual thing and made my references. And come to find on our third date, we watched SpongeBob together! I thought it was really cute and thoughtful of the person to think of me in that way.”

Pronouns: he/him

Age: 28

Location: NY, NY

How they flirt: “I love to notice the unique things about a person. It could be something about their appearance, their behavior, their mind, their morals. And from there, if it leads to a conversation where they’re sharing more about themselves and there’s a spark in their eyes, I can’t help but keep it going. I like to keep it light though, especially at the beginning. No expectations — just letting someone know that something specific about them brought a smile to my face.”

Signs they look for to see if the other person is flirting: “A combination of relaxed, open posture and follow up tells me the door is open to flirt back. When someone leans in, and keeps the conversation going, with a question or a playful remark, I know they’re down to flirt.”

Pronouns: she/her

Age: 24 

Location: London, UK

How Gen Z flirts differently: “Before, I think flirting was much more overt. You would just say, “I like you,” or you’d find a way to make it very obvious that you were interested. Whereas now, it’s much more about picking up on little signs. You have to notice the eye contact, the way someone talks to you, the teasing, the little things they do differently around you. Sometimes it gets to the point where you’re literally thinking, “Wait, are they flirting with me?” 

How to tell when to flirt back: “For me, it’s definitely engagement in the conversation. I’m quite a curious person, so if I’m asking you questions and you’re genuinely interested in what I’m saying, asking questions back and actually engaging with me, that’s a really good sign. It can also be something as simple as eye contact. If I’m looking at you in a certain way and you’re giving me that same look back, you can usually feel that little bit of tension between two people. And I think if you can feel it, there’s a good chance the other person can feel it too, so that’s normally when I think, ‘Okay, I can flirt back now.’”

Pronouns: she/her

Age: 25

Location: Los Angeles, CA 

How they flirt on Hinge: “When I’m chatting with someone I’m interested in on Hinge, I try to show it by making an effort to genuinely get to know them. I ask questions, show curiosity about their interests, and try to keep the conversation going. I think showing interest is really about being engaged in the conversation rather than just giving short responses or expecting the other person to carry it.” 

On compliments: “I feel like a compliment I get pretty often is ‘you’re so hot,’ which honestly doesn’t mean much to me, especially on a date. I find compliments like “you’re beautiful” much more meaningful, and those definitely stand out to me more. But recently, I went on a date where the guy told me I was really funny, and that stuck with me. I wasn’t necessarily trying to make him laugh, so I liked that he naturally picked up on my sense of humor and appreciated my wit. I think compliments feel more special when they show that someone is paying attention to who you are beyond just your appearance.”