Bumble Ends Women-First Requirement After Decade of Dating App History

The company is also extending the response window from 24 to 72 hours. This change intends to alleviate the pressure of immediate engagement, allowing users more flexibility to manage their connections without the constant fear of a match expiring. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd framed the update as an evolution of the company’s original mission, arguing that the goal was always to center women’s needs rather than dictate a single method of interaction.

Internal survey data suggests the move aligns with current user sentiment, as 66% of women indicated they prefer men to initiate the conversation. This shift follows earlier experiments with "Opening Moves," a feature that allowed women to set specific conversation starters. The transition comes at a critical juncture for Bumble, which reported a 15.2% revenue decline to $210.5 million in its recent second-quarter earnings. As the industry faces widespread user fatigue, the company is actively exploring alternatives to the traditional swipe-based model, including AI-driven features and in-person events to attract a younger demographic.