TL;DR: Well-written, charming, intelligent bios can hide red flags; if a bio sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
The ability to write well is a gift, and writing is a reprieve for people with social anxiety or anyone who has a hard time expressing themselves orally. Hence, it’s not the writing itself that’s dangerous, but the people behind it, like everything else.
There’s no arguing that a well-written bio on a dating app stands out. Without bios, male profiles receive 16 matches from women on average, which increases to 69 for those with bios.
An amazing bio can be just as dangerous as a vague profile
We know that dangerous people can hide behind blurry photos or vague profiles, but imagine coming across a bio that seems too good to be true. A well-crafted bio, brimming with charm and emotional intelligence, can mask red flags. Some people take the time to curate a persona that feels genuine, but they are emotionally unavailable or manipulative behind the polished prose. While not everyone with a well-written bio is a master manipulator — or so we hope – the ability to present a compelling narrative can be weaponized in the wrong hands. You think, “Finally, someone who gets it,” but the reality can be quite different. Words are as powerful in dating as everywhere else, and exercising caution is crucial. If a profile seems too good to be true, it probably is, and maybe AI-generated to boot.
Emotional intelligence, dating, and psychopathy
There is a strong and consistent connection between emotional intelligence and dating prospects. Emotional intelligence is one of the secrets to lasting intimate relationships. It makes us highly aware of any changes occurring in ourselves and others. It denotes an ability to express oneself emotionally suitably and effectively, and to understand other people’s emotions. Psychopathy, on the other hand, is related to major emotional deficits.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of the association between psychopathic traits and emotional intelligence. A systematic and quantitative literature review using Scopus, PubMed, Medline, and PsycINFO revealed over a dozen studies meeting inclusion criteria with 2,401 participants in total. The analysis revealed that lower EQ levels were linked to higher psychopathic trait scores. It’s very difficult to fake EQ, so the person behind that beautiful bio probably isn’t a psychopath, just an ordinary liar. That said, a person who does fake emotional intelligence is more detrimental than someone without any emotional intelligence.
Cracking the “code” behind dating app bios
Beyond EQ, what can bios reveal about app users? A 2025 analysis found that 18.5% of men mentioned their height vs 9.8% of women, but women were likelier to mention tattoos, zodiac signs, and hair color in their bios. 40% of women and 34% of men used emojis to attract potential partners on dating sites. Dating app profiles were just 19.51 words long on average.
Maybe not everyone’s great at writing, but many seem apt at concealing their true intentions. It’s common knowledge that many users are only looking to hook up, with some going so far as being interested in a relationship only if the hookup is good. However, fewer than 4% of bios directly mention hookups. The low number approximates the chance of one: just 8% of dating app matches will lead to a hookup, and the average user needs 12.5 matches to find a single hookup.
Recap
- An amazing bio can be just as dangerous as a vague profile
- Emotional intelligence, dating, and psychopathy
- Cracking the “code” behind dating app bios.