Women-first dating platform Bumble is gearing up for a summer app relaunch and has announced a slew of product updates in the meantime. These updates include a new “Opening Move” feature that allows women to prepare questions to send to matches. This is a significant move from Bumble, which has always required women to make the first move.
In addition to Opening Move, Bumble has also expanded its “Intentions” badges, which are advanced filter options for premium members. Users can now choose between more specific intentions such as “fun, casual dates,” “intimacy without commitment,” and “ethical non-monogamy.” Bumble has also launched a new Interests section to showcase which three causes and communities a user supports, such as feminism, environmentalism, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Bumble is also rolling out hundreds of new prompts and categories to help users show off their personalities on their profiles. For example, there is now an “About Me” category that offers prompts like “I’m known for,” “I’m a real nerd about,” and “My humble brag is.” Other categories include prompts related to date nights and self-care.
As part of the update, Bumble now requires new users to add four pictures to their profiles, when previously they only required two. This is because users with more photos are more successful at finding connections.
With Bumble approaching its tenth anniversary, the company also unveiled a new logo and refreshed app design on Tuesday, featuring bold fonts and a more “modern” feel. The company plans to relaunch its app in the second quarter of 2024, introducing new AI-powered features and other improvements, like potentially allowing men to send the first message.
Bumble’s recent updates indicate that the dating app is trying to step up its game and appeal to younger users, who are increasingly fed up with swiping culture. The company’s plans for an AI-powered relaunch are also a sign that it is looking to innovate and stay ahead of the competition.
