Bumble is making a change to its messaging system, allowing either person in a match to send the first message. The company previously required a match of a specific gender to message first, but this rule no longer applies.
The change is part of Bumble’s efforts to reinvent itself and better compete with other dating apps, such as Tinder. According to the company, 62 percent of women and men say they feel more confident when they have a choice in how and when conversations begin.
Bumble’s founder and CEO, Whitney Wolfe Herd, had previously teased that the company would change its messaging rules in May. The new rules launch today, August 11, and will apply to all users.
To encourage users to send more thoughtful messages, Bumble will detect when users are trying to send a one-word message and nudge them with an onscreen prompt to write a more intentional first message.
They will also have more flexibility in how they approach conversations. The company’s research suggests that the new rules should create better outcomes overall.
Technically, Bumble hasn’t required users to abide by gendered messaging rules since 2024, when the company launched “Opening Moves,” an option that lets women set a prompt for men to respond to.
Same-sex connections have always allowed either match to message first. Bumble expanded the option to either person in a connection with a nonbinary match in 2022, along with adding support for a wider variety of gender options.
Changing messaging is just one way Bumble is trying to reinvent itself for the AI era. The company introduced Bee, an AI assistant that can connect users on Bumble, in March. Wolfe Herd has reportedly said that in-person events and AI are a large part of the company’s future.
Message recipients will now have 72 hours to reply to a message and start a conversation.
This change simplifies the messaging process and makes the pressure of messaging first entirely optional.
For users, this change means they can approach conversations in a way that feels most natural to them. They can choose to send the first message or wait for the other person to make the first move. This flexibility can help reduce anxiety and make the overall experience more enjoyable, allowing users to connect with others using Wi‑Fi or other technologies.
The new messaging rules are a significant change for Bumble, but they are part of a larger effort to improve the user experience and stay competitive in the dating app market.
