- Search for hashtags like #single, #singlelife, #teamsingle, #singlelifebelike, #singleforever, #singlegirlproblems, #allthesingleladies, and #beingsingle.
- Make your profile public and use hashtags and captions that show you're single.
- Search by location to see who's nearby. If you find someone that's attractive, check their profile for signs that they're single.
Searching for Singles
Search for popular singles hashtags to find other singles. Type "#single" or "#singlelife" into the Instagram search bar to see the top posts and reels containing that tag. Scroll through the results to see if there's anyone you might be interested in. You can also try other hashtags popular with singles like "#singlelifebelike," "#singlelifeproblems," "#singlegirlproblems," "#allthesingleladies," and "#beingsingle," and "singleforever." You can also find other common hashtags single people use on Instagram by searching the word single, tapping Tags, and scrolling through the list. This is a great way to find more niche hashtags used by single people you might relate to. For example, "#singlemommy," "#singlegay," "#singledad," and "#singlelifememes" might introduce you to single people who share more in common with you than the generic single hashtags. Follow the hashtags so new posts using those tags will show up on your feed.
Search by location. Another great way to find eligible singles is to find posts and reels tagged near you. Tap the Search icon and search for your city, neighborhood, your favorite singles bar, or any nearby establishment where single people might spend time. or a nearby establishment or landmark. Tap Places to narrow the results, and then tap a location to see photos people have shared from that location. If an attractive person often shares selfies, uses singles-related hashtags, or mentions that they're single in their posts, they might be open to conversation! You can also zoom in or out on the map with 2 fingers to narrow or broaden the map radius.
Search for your hobbies and interests. A great way to meet potential new partners is to find people who share common interests. Search for your favorite activities, local bands, hiking locations, sports teams, or anything else you enjoy to see related posts. Check out the profiles of people who like the same things you do—if they indicate that they're single in their posts, you can start a conversation based on your mutual hobbies. You don't always have to search for hashtags! When you search for a hashtag, you'll only see results from people who used that specific hashtag. If you search for keywords without the hashtag symbol, you'll also see posts in which people used those words in the caption or description. This is a great way to find people who don't necessarily use hashtags. For instance, if you enjoy wakeboarding and want to meet someone who also likes watersports, you might search for a hashtag like "#LakeTravisWakeboarding" or keywords like "wakeboarding Tahoe" and "wakeboard women."
Perfecting Your Profile
Make sure your profile is public. If you have a private Instagram profile, singles you haven't met yet won't be able to find you! Tap the three-line menu icon on your profile, go to Settings > Privacy and Security, and remove the checkmark next to "Private Account." This will also make it so that your tagged content shows up in the hashtag feeds. Keep in mind that having a public profile means you can't control who sees your content. It may also open the gates for harassment from strangers.
Choose a profile picture that shows off your personality. Your profile photo should be something that gives singles insight into your hobbies and interests so they don't think you're just self-branding yourself as an attractive face. Use a high-quality camera or set up a timer on your camera phone so it stands out from the everyday selfie pic. If you want to take a close-up, a selfie is perfectly acceptable. Make sure your face is in focus and the background isn't too distracting. For instance, if you’re an outdoorsy person, your primary photo might be a wide-shot selfie of you out hiking or kayaking. If you’re a voracious reader, you might post a photo of you in front of your bookshelf. Or, if you’re an animal lover, be sure to post a good one of you and your best furry friend! Don't go overboard with filters because you want them to know and like the real you, not the you with CGI bunny ears or too-perfect makeup!Fun Fact: Due to the way the human brain makes sense of images, simple pictures are often deemed more attractive than busy, complex ones. A simpler image is one where your face is well-lit and in focus and the background is slightly blurry. If you don't have a quality camera, your smartphone's "headshot" or "portrait" modes may be able to give you this effect (or something close to it).
Delete posts and reels that no longer reflect who you are as a person. Scroll through your profile and delete old posts that you wouldn't want potential partners to see. Your Instagram profile should contain posts that reflect who you are today so eligible singles will have a better idea of who you are and what you’re into. For instance, if your page is full of you out partying with a different date on your arm in each photo, delete those because your crush may think you're a player. However, it's perfectly acceptable to keep photos of you with friends, even if those friends are people of the gender you prefer! If you have lots of photos with friends who might be mistaken for romantic partners, be sure to tag something like “#bestfriends,” “#brotherfromanothermother,” or “#surrogatesister” so people can infer it’s a platonic relationship.
Use hashtags like #single or #singlelife to put yourself out there. Just like you've been searching for singles using hashtags, make sure other singles can find you with those same hashtags! Post funny images and memes that might fall under the “#singlelife” or "#singleforever" hashtags, but don't go overboard or you could seem desperate. If you typically post every day, keep it to 1 or 2 "single" posts a week so it doesn’t seem like your whole Instagram existence is about finding a partner. For example, you might snap a photo of you holding up a massive bowl of pasta and caption it with something like: “Cooked too much food, wishing for someone to enjoy it with #singlelife.” If you want to be a little more forward about it, you can also say you're single in your bio line.Tip: Be creative with how you put yourself out there because it will give others a better idea who you are. If you like poetry, for instance, post quotes from romantic poets like Pablo Neruda or William Butler Yeats.
Use Instagram stories and reels to show your unique personality. Videos are more engaging and will let others see you in a more real-life format. Sharing video reels can even expose you to more potential singles you might not reach with regular photos. Many people post stories more often than they do photos to their timeline—it's more common to see multiple stories per day than photo posts. Record yourself doing things you enjoy (even if it’s just being silly) to give your crush a more intimate idea of who you are and why you’re so great! Try to post stories and reels that encourage people to respond—you can create games, ask questions, share memes, and more! Don't forget to add hashtags that make it easy for people to find you. If you have a crush on someone, check out their stories too! Since you can see who has seen your stories, your crush will see that you've been checking them out, and vice-versa. If someone has been looking at your Instagram stories a lot, it could mean they're interested, or that they're curious about your life.
Starting the Conversation
Follow single people you're interested in getting to know. Once you come across a particular single person who piques your interest, tap the Follow icon at the top of their profile. They’ll get a notification saying you follow them, which means they might look at your profile, like what they see, and decide to follow you back! Now that you’re both following each other, the more you interact with “likes” and comments, the more likely each of you are to show up in one another’s feed.
“Like” the posts of single people you're interested in (within moderation!). If the person you're into posts several times a day, “like” only 1 or 2 per day depending on how often you use Instagram. If they only post a photo every other day or once a week, “like” 1 or 2 photos a week. Try to match their usage style so you know you’re not inadvertently making them feel uncomfortable with a flood of “likes.” If they post selfies, definitely “like” those because it gives them a hint that you're physically attracted to them! There’s no rule for how many posts you should “like” within a certain period of time—just go with your gut on how often to do it to get their attention without seeming overbearing or annoying. You can see a list of all of the posts you've liked by tapping the three lines on your profile and selecting Your Activity > Interactions > Likes.
Leave charming or flirty comments. Scroll through your crush's page to find a photo you like. Leave a friendly comment about the photo that shows you relate to them in some way. This can be something funny, heartfelt, or flirty—just be authentic and respectful. If they reply to your comment, feel free to comment back. If they don’t reply, wait a few days before commenting on another post. For example, if your crush posts a photo of some beautifully-plated pasta they made from scratch and tagged it “#nomnom”, you might write: "#nomnom is right! You've got skills. I'd love to try some of your edible art sometime. ????" Add a heart or wink emoji to your comments if you want to be a little bolder. Don't comment on every single one of their photos because that can come off as creepy. If they don’t reply to any of your comments, you might take that as a sign they’re not interested, which could be true. However, if they don’t reply to anyone’s comments, they might just be busy.
Send a direct message (DM). Write a specific comment about something they've posted—don't be random or too suggestive. Make yourself stand out by trying to authentically relate to them. Asking an open-ended question is a good way to start a conversation because it prompts a more thoughtful reply. For example: "Hey, I saw your post about "Seveneves" and I'm a huge fan of Neal Stephenson too! What did you think of the ending? We should totally nerd out together!" If you have mutual friends with your crush, that's a great opener for sending them a message. For instance, you might say: "Hey, I noticed you were friends with Stan and I kind of just stumbled onto your Instagram. I really, really love the aesthetic of your Instagram posts, and I just wanted to say hi!" If you don't hear back from them, don't flood their inbox with more messages—play it cool. If it's been over a week of silence, take the hint and move on (they're not interested). You don't want to come on too strong. The idea is to be friendly and charming, just like you would in a face-to-face setting.Warning: Only send them a DM if they follow you back or have thoughtfully engaged with you over comments. Otherwise, you're kind of taking a blind shot in the dark. Plus, depending on their settings, they may not even be able to see your messages unless they follow you back.
Ask them out once you've built a rapport over DMs. If you're on a first-name basis with your crush or if you've been chatting every day for a few days to a week, go ahead and ask them out! Don't overthink it, just ask as you would ask out anyone in person or via text. For example: "Hey, I really like chatting with you and think you're awesome. Any interest in continuing our convo over coffee or dinner sometime soon?" If they say no, be understanding and don't get down on yourself. There are tons of other people out there! If they live far away and you’re interested in starting a long-distance relationship, ask if they’re willing to video chat instead. Who knows, you might arrange to meet up someday! Keep in mind there are risks involved in meeting someone in person. To stay safe, arrange your first hangout in a public location, and share your location with one or more trusted friends or family members.
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