Popular dating app Bumble is making a major change to how users connect by removing its famous rule that required women to send the first message.
Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has stood out from competitors like Tinder by giving women control over starting conversations in heterosexual matches. Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd created the feature to empower women and protect them from unwanted messages.
However, Bumble decided to change the rule after testing new options and surveying its users. The company found that 66% of women surveyed actually prefer men to send the first message. Bumble is also extending the time limit for starting a conversation after a match from 24 hours to three days, giving users less pressure to respond quickly.
Reaction to the decision has been mixed across online communities like Reddit. Some users feel that removing the signature feature turns Bumble into "just like any other dating app." Others, including many female users, welcomed the update. Some women explained that initiating conversations often felt frustrating when men failed to reply or allowed matches to expire.
Matchmaking experts noted that while the "women-first" concept was novel a decade ago, dating habits have changed. According to Bumble's leadership, the update aims to provide more flexibility and help people create meaningful connections without feeling unnecessary pressure.