Bumble Ditches Its Signature ‘Women First’ Rule
Bumble is ending its women-first rule and extending response times to reduce pressure.
The update
Bumble is ending the rule that required women to initiate the first message in heterosexual matches. The company announced that anyone in a match can now send the opening message. The app is also extending the window for a match to respond from 24 hours to 72 hours, providing more flexibility for users who may not be able to respond immediately.
Why it matters
This change marks a significant shift for an app built around giving women control of the conversation. The company frames the update as an evolution of its founding mission to create better outcomes for everyone. Data from the company suggests many women prefer men to send the first message to reduce stress, with 66% of surveyed women reporting this preference.
What to watch
It remains to be seen how this change affects the app’s user base and market share. The company is also testing prompts to encourage more thoughtful opening messages, as they shift focus from who can message first to the quality of those messages.
Sources
- techcrunch.com — The update details and the CEO's framing of the change.
- theverge.com — The longer response window and the context of the 'Opening Moves' feature.