Marcus Reed
Behavioral Researcher & Dating-App Analyst
Marcus spent six years inside a major dating app as a behavioral research lead, running experiments on message response rates, profile conversion, and conversation-to-date drop-off. He left because he wanted to write honestly about what actually works — which you can't do from inside a company whose revenue depends on you not finding anyone. At Dating Rewired he writes the research-grounded pieces: which openers actually get replies (and why the obvious one doesn't), how long conversations should go before suggesting a date, and the profile details that disproportionately drive matches. All based on internal data patterns, publicly-available studies, and experiments he runs with readers who volunteer.
- M.Sc. Behavioral Science, LSE
- 6 years Behavioral Research Lead at a major dating app
- Published in Journal of Consumer Psychology
Articles by Marcus
The Best Hinge Openers for Guys — From 4 Million Conversations Analyzed
Most opener advice is based on 50 anecdotes. This is based on data from millions of threads. Here's what actually moves the needle on Hinge.
Marcus Reed · Apr 20, 2026 Age Verification on Dating Apps: What the Data Says About Risk
Dating apps have a minor problem — literally. Here's what the data shows, what your gut is actually detecting, and how to protect yourself before it becomes your problem.
Marcus Reed · Apr 17, 2026 Why Your Hinge Profile Gets Likes But No Dates
You're matching fine. Conversations start. Then the thread dies in two days or meets in the real world and never converts. Here's the exact drop-off — with the numbers behind it.
Marcus Reed · Apr 17, 2026