Bumble Tried to Change Dating, but the Dating Market Forced It to Change Instead

Bumble eliminated its women-first messaging rule, now allowing men to send the first message after a match and extending response windows from 24 to 72 hours. The change follows declining engagement across the dating sector, with Tinder’s daily active users falling 4% while Hinge’s monthly active users rose 13% in the past year. Users criticize the shift, saying it erodes Bumble’s original feminist positioning and may increase harassment.