Bumble Stock News

The online dating industry is facing one of its biggest tests since the pandemic boom. After years of rapid expansion caused by swipe-based matchmaking, many of the industry's biggest players are grappling with slowing user growth, declining engagement and increasing skepticism from younger users.

Finding a connection on Bumble works differently now, with the dating app changing one of its flagship messaging rules.

Bumble fully removed its rule that women must message first and expanded how long they have to message. The changes make Bumble look quite similar to Tinder, its primary competitor.

Bumble is overhauling one of its most recognisable features by allowing either person in a match to send the first message, marking a major change to the dating app's women-first approach as it seeks to revive user engagement amid slowing growth. The company announced on Tuesday that it is removing the women-first messaging requirement that has defined the platform since its launch in 2014.

Bumble on Tuesday said it would now allow either person in a match to send ​the first message, dropping the women-first messaging ‌rule that has been a defining feature of the dating app since its launch in 2014.

Bumble is officially giving up on the rule that made it, well, Bumble.

Tinder isn't the only major dating app turning away from the swipe and towards real-world events to attract Gen Z users who've grown tired of traditional online dating. On Wednesday, Bumble touted the early success of its newest app, Plans, designed to connect people “IRL” in low-pressure, group settings, and spoke of what comes next for Bumble's flagship app after the “swipe” is dead.