The dating app Bumble, which has been around for a decade and was once hailed as the feminist alternative to Tinder, is changing its approach. For the past ten years, Bumble has required women to make the first move when contacting potential matches, hoping to reduce the number of unwanted messages women receive. However, the app is now allowing men to initiate conversations, a move that has sparked mixed reactions.
Bumble’s decision comes amid declining stock prices and recent layoffs, suggesting that the app’s previous model may not have been as successful as hoped. The new feature, called Opening Moves, allows women to choose a question that will be sent to all of their matches. Men can then respond to the question, opening up the conversation.
While some women have welcomed the change, others have expressed concern that it could lead to more unwanted attention and harassment. Bumble insists that the feature is designed to give women more control over their dating experience and reduce the pressure of having to make the first move. However, it remains to be seen how the new feature will impact the app’s user base and overall success.
The shift in Bumble’s approach highlights the ongoing debate over gender dynamics in dating and the challenges that both men and women face in the modern dating landscape. Bumble’s experiment with Opening Moves is sure to be closely watched by other dating apps and could potentially influence the way people approach online dating in the future.
