Dating has entered a new era in which finding a potential soulmate is increasingly shaped by the digital world and, often, by algorithms. On dating apps, the way people present themselves through their profiles can significantly influence how approachable, trustworthy and likable they appear.
A new study explored how the amount of personal information shared on dating profiles affects the way others perceive potential partners. The secret to making a positive impression lies in balance: staying within the Goldilocks zone of self-disclosure.
Sharing too little information can backfire, making someone appear less invested or as though they may be hiding something. Oversharing also seemed to work as a red flag, as too many personal details created information overload and made the person seem less interesting to discover over time.
Profiles with a moderate amount of personal information were the most appealing for a long-term relationship. Profiles that revealed a moderate amount of personal information emerged as the clear favorite, attracting 52% of participants, far more than profiles that shared very little (26%) or too much (22%).
The findings are published in Current Psychology.
Not too much, not too little
Telling others about ourselves is at the heart of human connection. The thoughts, feelings and experiences we choose to share help turn strangers into acquaintances or even friends. Online dating is no different. A dating profile provides the first glimpse into who someone is, often deciding whether a potential match is interested enough to start a conversation.
Studies have suggested that people who reveal more about themselves online are often perceived as warmer, friendlier and more trustworthy. In the world of dating profiles, sharing more personal details can also make someone appear more authentic than profiles that feel overly polished or carefully curated. However, too much information was not always welcomed.
In this study, the researchers conducted three separate experiments to understand how sharing personal information in a dating profile affects attraction.
In the first, participants viewed three versions of a potential partner's profile that differed only in how much personal information was revealed—low, moderate or high. They rated how attractive they found each person, what they believed that person's relationship goals were and even wrote a message to the profile owner to measure genuine romantic interest.
The researchers found that participants preferred profiles with a moderate amount of detail. Sharing more details made someone seem more socially attractive, like they were a good potential parent or partner, but it didn't affect how physically or sexually attractive they seemed. The more someone shared, the more they were seen as looking for a serious, long-term relationship rather than something casual.
In the second experiment, participants saw just one profile instead of comparing profiles. They then rated the profile before taking part in what they believed was a five-minute chat with the profile owner, who was actually a researcher following a script. This allowed the researchers to test whether the impressions formed from a dating profile held up during a live conversation.
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The effect of self-disclosure and relationship intentions on profile owners' perceived interest in a long-term relationship. Credit: Current Psychology (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s12144-026-09787-y -
The effect of self-disclosure and relationship intentions on participants' interest in a long-term relationship with the profile owner. Credit: Current Psychology (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s12144-026-09787-y
The study confirmed that how much people shared on their dating profile also signaled their relationship goals. Moderate self-disclosure made them seem more interested in a long-term relationship and less interested in casual flings than those who shared very little. These first impressions persisted even after a brief online chat.
The final experiment explored whether being upfront about relationship intentions could override the signals sent by self-disclosure. Participants viewed profiles with low, moderate or high levels of personal sharing, each clearly stating either a long-term or short-term relationship goal.
In this study, the Goldilocks effect disappeared, with high self-disclosure becoming a signal of sincerity and openness to intimacy. The researchers found that a detailed profile canceled out a red flag, such as someone looking for something casual.
While profiles expressing a preference for long-term relationships remained the most popular, a high level of self-disclosure worked in favor of those looking for short-term relationships.
The study's use of mock profiles and brief lab interactions cannot fully capture real dating app decisions. To see whether the Goldilocks effect holds true across demographics and dating apps, researchers need to test the pattern using real dating-platform data.
If confirmed, these findings could help dating platforms design prompts that encourage balanced self-description rather than empty bios or excessive detail.
Written for you by our author Sanjukta Mondal, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.
More information
Gurit E. Birnbaum et al, Too much information or not enough? How self-disclosure in online dating profiles influences attraction and relationship intentions, Current Psychology (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s12144-026-09787-y
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Citation: How much should you reveal about yourself on your dating profile? Scientists have found the 'sweet spot' (2026, July 23) retrieved 23 July 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-07-reveal-dating-profile-scientists-sweet.html
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