Tinder’s algorithm optimizes for looks (which means narcissists are usually shown first). The effect is compounded because the best-looking profiles (who are mostly narcissists) get the most right swipes. Narcissists are generally not looking for long-term relationships and are instead looking for an easy supply of people to use. There is an overlap with the other dark triad traits, such as psychopathy (low levels of empathy and high levels of impulsivity and thrill-seeking) and Machiavellianism (motivation by self-interest, desire to manipulate).

Women looking for long-term relationships are swiping right on the best-looking profiles and unwittingly choosing narcissistic/dark triad men.

Normal men who are not narcissists or do not have dark triad traits get screwed over because the algorithm is judging them on superficial terms only and therefore not showing their profiles to women who would otherwise be interested in them. The women get screwed over as well because they don’t get a chance to swipe on the normal men who would probably be most compatible with them.

Tinder’s algorithm needs compatibility filters (such as value questions) that would optimize people with similar morals and values to each other. OkCupid’s question algorithm is one example that matches on similar value responses (as it asks questions about goals, values, religion, politics, etc). OkCupid would actually probably be one of the best dating apps if it had Tinder’s large dating profile base (as Tinder has the most users out of all the apps).

The ideal dating app would have OkCupid’s compatibility questions/match filters and Tinder’s user base.

(EDIT: Added from a comment below - Attractive people aren’t inherently narcissistic; however, the best-looking profiles would probably end up having the most right swipes or options, which would result in these users exhibiting narcissistic behavior (looking for multiple easy sources of supply for sex, attention, etc), Machiavellian behavior (tendency to manipulate, motivated by self interest) or psychopathic behavior (high levels of impulsivity or thrill-seeking, low levels of empathy) in terms of how they treat each of their matches.)

———— Dark Triad Traits: (From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_triad)

Narcissism: Individuals who score high on narcissism display grandiosity, entitlement, dominance, and superiority. Narcissism has been found to correlate positively with extraversion and openness and negatively with agreeableness. Narcissism has also been found to have a significant correlation with psychopathy.

Machiavellianism: Named after the political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, people who score high on this trait are excessively motivated by self-interest, cold, and lack morality.They view interpersonal manipulation as the key for life success, and behave accordingly. Individuals who are measured to have a high level of Machiavellianism tend to have low agreeableness and conscientiousness.

Psychopathy: Considered the most malevolent of the dark triad, individuals who score high on psychopathy show low levels of empathy and high levels of impulsivity and thrill-seeking. With respect to the Big Five personality factors, psychopathy has been found to correlate negatively with agreeableness and conscientiousness.