The dating app Bumble has been known for “women making the first move” (messaging first) in straight matches since its 2014 launch. Now the company is reversing a more recent change to let men message first — but only in a couple of areas.
Last week, Bumble announced that it’s removing the Opening Moves feature in Mexico and Australia. The feature has been removed automatically for those users.
Opening Moves was introduced in 2024 as a way for men to send the first message to women and was advertised as a way to lessen exhaustion with dating apps. The company’s former CEO Lidiane Jones led the charge after taking over from founder and first CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd, who shortly thereafter returned to the CEO role after Jones held the position for only a year.
Mashable Trend Report
While the reputation of dating apps overall has been slipping in recent years due to burnout and bad actors, Bumble has been especially hit financially. The company laid off 30 percent of its workforce last year, and its stock price has fallen 95 percent from its IPO as of this writing.
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Bumble seems to be returning to its original ethos even amid legal challenges. The Observer reported Bumble introduced Opening Moves following lawsuits and legal threats in California, claiming that the app discriminated against men, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Observer states that the company is starting to remove Opening Moves in Australia and Mexico due to lower legal risks in those markets.
“At Bumble, we regularly test and innovate our features to foster healthy, respectful connections while staying true to our women-first mission and prioritizing member safety,” a Bumble spokesperson told Mashable. “Supporting our community as they go from match to message is a key part of that work. As with all testing, we evaluate our learnings before considering a wider rollout, ensuring any changes continue to meet our community’s needs and deliver a positive experience for our members.”
Bumble Quietly Removes Option for Men to Message First in Mexico and Australia
What Changed? The Shift in bumble’s Messaging Policy
Bumble, the dating app known for empowering women to make the first move by allowing only females to message first in heterosexual matches, has recently made a subtle yet significant change in some markets. In Mexico and Australia, Bumble has quietly removed the option for men to send the first message entirely, even in settings where messaging traditionally was more balanced or open-ended. this move marks a new direction in Bumble’s commitment to female empowerment and redefines user interaction.
Why Did Bumble Make This Change?
The underlying reasons behind Bumble’s decision seem to align with the platform’s core value of creating a safer, more women-centric environment in the complex landscape of online dating. Here are the main factors:
- Empowering Women: By removing options for men to message first,Bumble doubles down on female agency,encouraging women to control the pace and direction of conversations.
- Reducing Unwanted Messaging: This approach minimizes the flood of unsolicited messages women frequently enough receive on dating apps.
- Market Testing: Mexico and Australia might be pilot regions for a future global rollout if this experiment proves successful.
Impact on Users
This change has stirred mixed reactions among Bumble users in the affected countries. Here’s a closer look at the community impact:
- Women’s Experience: Many women appreciate the increased control and less pressure to respond to unwelcome advances.
- Men’s Experience: Some men feel restricted and frustrated by not being able to initiate conversations as freely as before.
- Dialog Dynamics: Matches may experience fewer mismatches caused by unsolicited or premature messaging attempts.
How Does This affect Dating culture in Mexico and Australia?
Dating cultures vary drastically worldwide, and Bumble’s policy tweak reflects and influences these nuances:
- Mexico: Traditionally more conservative in gender roles, this update might shift online dating dynamics by encouraging modern interaction styles and empowering women.
- Australia: Known for relatively progressive attitudes, the change challenges conventional dating scripts and supports evolving gender dynamics in digital spaces.
Table: Comparison of Bumble Messaging Rules – Before and After Change
| Aspect | Before Change | After Change (Mexico & Australia) |
|---|---|---|
| Who initiates messages? | Women initiate in heterosexual matches; men can message first in some cases. | Only women can message first; men cannot initiate messages at all. |
| Messaging freedom for men | Partial – men could reach out under certain circumstances. | Restricted – men cannot message first, eliminating initial outreach. |
| User feedback | Mixed – some men frustrated, women empowered. | Women more empowered; men report feeling limited in engagement. |
| Geographic scope | Global with regional exceptions. | Specific to Mexico and Australia as experimental markets. |
Benefits and Practical Tips for Navigating the New Bumble Environment
benefits
- enhanced Safety and Respect: Women gain more control, reducing harassment and boosting genuine interaction quality.
- Simplified Dialogue Flow: Clear boundaries around who can initiate messages can lower inbox clutter for female users.
- Increased Match Quality: Matches are possibly more meaningful, as women choose to engage first.
practical Tips for Men
- Optimize Your Profile: Make your profile visually compelling and textually interesting to attract women’s attention.
- Interact Through Bees (Bumble’s Interaction Features): Use features like SuperSwipes or Bumble’s virtual gifts to subtly signal interest.
- Be Patient and Respectful: Understand the platform’s pace; wait for women to initiate and respond thoughtfully once they do.
Tips for Women
- Take Initiative Confidently: Be proactive in messaging; remember the app’s design aims to support you in starting meaningful conversations.
- Set Boundaries: Use Bumble’s blocking or reporting features if you encounter inappropriate behaviour.
- Engage Actively: Maintain a consistent presence by checking matches regularly to increase your chances of connecting.
Case Studies & User Experiences
“The removal of men’s option to message first completely changed how I experience bumble here in Australia. At first, I felt restricted, but in time, it made me focus on improving my profile. Now conversations feel more authentic because women initiate if they are genuinely interested.” – Michael,29,Sydney
“As a woman in Mexico using Bumble,this update feels empowering. Instead of being bombarded with random messages, I can now take full control of who I wont to talk to. It’s refreshing to lead the conversation without pressure.” – camila, 26, Mexico City
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How to Adapt if You’re a Bumble User in Mexico or australia
If you are based in Mexico or Australia and using Bumble, adapting quickly to this change will enhance your experience:
- Men: Focus on curating an engaging and honest profile to attract quality matches who will message first. leverage app boosts and explore Bumble’s premium features.
- Women: Embrace your new role as the conversation starter with confidence; this control might lead to more meaningful connections.
WordPress Table Suggestion for User Feedback Analysis
| User Type | Feedback | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Women | Generally positive, appreciate reduced unsolicited messages | Initiate conversations actively, use safety tools |
| Men | Mixed: frustration at losing outreach ability, but prospect to improve profile quality | Enhance profile content; patient, wait for women’s messages |
| Casual Users | Confused initially, uncertain about engagement flow | Explore app tutorials, follow bumble community updates |
