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Bumble Changes Its Women First Dating Model, Now Lets Anyone Send the First Message

Bumble Changes Its Women-First Dating Model, Now Lets Anyone Send the First Message

Bumble says either person in a match now has the option to start the conversation.

Written by Shaurya Tomer, Edited by Rohan Pal | Updated: 12 August 2026 17:34 IST

Bumble Changes Its Women-First Dating Model, Now Lets Anyone Send the First Message

Photo Credit: Bumble

Users will be able to send only one initial message to the recipient, as per the company

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Highlights

Bumble now allows men to send the first message after a match
The app increased the response window from 24 hours to 72 hours
The company reported a 16 percent decline in paying active users

Bumble on Tuesday announced a major change to its signature dating experience. The dating app, which has had a long-standing women-first approach, will now allow both men and women to send the first message after a match. As part of the new chat experience, users will also have up to 72 hours to respond to a match, up from the previous 24-hour window. Bumble says the changes are based on member feedback and product testing.

Changes to the Bumble Experience

Since the launch of the app in 2014, Bumble has followed a women-first approach, where only women were allowed to make the first move after a match. This core part of the dating experience is now being revamped. This gives either person in a match the option to start the conversation.

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However, there are some caveats to this move. To begin with, users can send one initial message, and the chat will only open after the recipient responds. Further, the dating app will prompt users to rethink low-effort openers, such as one-word messages, before they are sent.

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Another major change is the expansion of the response window. Previously, users had 24 hours to respond to a first message, after which the chat expired. As part of the changes, the company is increasing this window to up to 72 hours. Bumble said the longer window gives “members greater opportunity to start conversations at their own pace.”

Citing a study, the company said that its testing showed an increase in chat initiation after introducing the new system, while opening messages became more evenly distributed between men and women. More than half of the members surveyed during the testing also said that the longer response window improved their experience.

Other new features include refreshed Profile Prompts and AI-powered profile feedback. Bumble said the new additions aim to help users present themselves more authentically before they start conversations.

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The announcement comes as Bumble looks to revive its business after a difficult period. On August 6, the company reported 3.16 million paying active users, which represents a 16 percent year-on-year (YoY) decline. It also registered a 15 percent decline in total revenue to $211 million.

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Further reading: Bumble, Bumble app

Shaurya Tomer

Email Shaurya Tomer

Shaurya Tomer is a Sub Editor at Gadgets 360 with 2 years of experience across a diverse spectrum of topics. With a particular focus on smartphones, gadgets and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), he often likes to explore the industry's intricacies and innovations – whether dissecting the latest smartphone release or exploring the ethical implications of AI advancements. In his free time, he often embarks on impromptu road trips to unwind, recharge, and ...More

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Bumble Changes Its Women-First Dating Model, Now Lets Anyone Send the First Message

Changes to the Bumble Experience

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