Stories

Thu, 13 Aug 2026

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 Bumble divides users by ditching its signature 'women-first' chat rule

The dating app's boss says the move is in response to a successful trial and a change in what users want.

* Bumble, a dating app, has dropped its signature rule that allowed only women to send the first message to a match.
* The change was made after a trial showed more engagement and a survey found 66% of women prefer men to send the first message.
* Users will now have three days to initiate a conversation instead of 24 hours.
* Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd said the change provides "more flexibility, less pressure, and more opportunities" for users to connect.
* The decision has sparked debate among users, with some questioning how Bumble is different from other dating apps.
* Professional matchmaker Sarah Louise Ryan welcomed the move, saying the signature feature had "run its course".
* Bumble's British audience fell from 1.5 million monthly users in 2023 to 1.1 million in 2025, amid wider stagnation across the UK online dating market.