How important are profile photos on dating apps?

According to a WakuWaku Mail survey, about 70% of both men and women consider photos very important, with women showing a stronger tendency to prioritize them.

Have you ever been rejected based solely on your photo?

Approximately 90% of survey respondents have experienced being rejected based solely on their photo, with more than half of women reporting that this happens frequently.

Who was the target of this survey?

The survey targeted 6,981 men and women aged 20 to 40 who use WakuWaku Mail.

Survey of 6,981 Dating App Users: Approximately 90% Have 'Rejected Based Solely on Photo'

Published Mar 31, 2026 7:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 28, 2026 8:10 PM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

Wakuwaku Mail, one of Japan's largest dating matching services, conducted a survey of 6,981 users regarding their awareness of profile photos. The results revealed that approximately 90% have experienced 'rejecting someone based solely on their photo,' with women tending to place more importance on photos.

Wakuwaku Mail (https://550909.com/), one of Japan's largest dating matching services, operated by Wakuwaku Communications Inc., conducted a survey on the awareness of profile photos among 6,981 male and female users. The survey thoroughly investigated the reality of 'photos that get chosen' and 'photos that are avoided.'

We will share the real situation revealed by the survey data, including significant differences in 'NG' (no good) elements between men and women, and commonalities among those whose matching rates increased after changing their photos.

Source: https://odoriba.love/survey/6063/

Survey Method: Internet questionnaire Target Audience: Men and women in their 20s to 40s using Wakuwaku Mail Valid Responses: 5,845 males / 1,136 females (Total 6,981 individuals) Implementation Period: January 19 (Mon) - January 22 (Thu), 2026 Survey Organizer: Wakuwaku Mail (https://550909.com/) Survey Company: Wakuwaku Communications Inc.

Response Format: Single choice, multiple choice, free description

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◆ Q1. How much importance do you place on profile photos in dating apps? (Single answer)

Approximately 70% answered 'important.' For women, 'very important' was about 30%, 1.5 times that of men.

The total for 'important (somewhat + very)' was 64% for men and 69% for women, indicating that approximately 70% of both genders consider photos important.

For 'very important,' it was 30% for women and 20% for men, showing a tendency for women to be more critical of photos.

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◆ Q2. Have you ever immediately rejected someone based on their profile photo? (Single answer)

'Immediate rejection' experience: 88% for men, 87% for women. Over half of women answered 'often.'

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Source: PR TIMES
Category: News

Survey of 6,981 Dating App Users: Approximately 90% Have 'Rejected Based Solely on Photo'

⚡ Key Points

◆ Q1. How much importance do you place on profile photos in dating apps? (Single answer)

◆ Q2. Have you ever immediately rejected someone based on their profile photo? (Single answer)

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