Women no longer need to initiate conversations on the dating app Bumble.
Bumble, a dating app, is introducing a new feature called "opening moves" which enables female users to present a query for male matches to answer, thereby starting a conversation. The change has been made to counteract Bumble's previous rule that obliged women to initiate the communication with their matches, thus providing them more control over their dating lives.
This update is part of a larger rebranding process for the app, as declared by its new CEO, Lidiane Jones, who succeeded founder Whitney Wolfe Herd earlier this year. It comes at a time when dating apps are trying to stay relevant as single individuals are asking for more offline interactions rather than continuing with virtual dating.
Jones views the Bumble makeover as an opportunity to help the platform evolve while maintaining its core focus on amplifying women's power. According to her interview with CNN, she anticipates that there is a growing desire for genuine human connections.
"We're noticing an increased need for authentic human connections," said Jones. "I don't expect the number of people using online dating to go down; quite the opposite. There is a higher bar now though, so we're viewing this as a great call to action to stay focused on our mission."
The revamped "opening moves" feature allows female users to keep initiating conversations or instead offer a question on their preferences to their matches, motivating those men to begin the communication. Non-binary users or people searching for same-sex matches have the liberty to establish and respond to prompts.
The Bumble revamp encompasses changes to users' bios, which now require more images and "dating intentions" badges that specify one's search goals like "life partner" or "fun, casual dates". Additionally, potential matches' profiles will highlight common interests at the top.
These alterations might prove pivotal for Bumble (whose parent company also includes dating apps Badoo and Fruitz) to return to profitability. It reported a $1.9 million net loss during the prior year and its share price has nosedived 86% since its initial public offering in early 2021.
Financial analysts project Bumble will post a $12 million profit during the first quarter of 2023, a significant upgrade from the $2.3 million loss during the preceding quarter. The user base (who pay for the service) is also predicted to rise by 14%, surpassing 3.9 million individuals.
"We're lucky to possess strong financials to permit us to invest in the company's growth while meeting our shareholders' profit expectations," Jones mentioned. "We're at an exceptional juncture where we can consolidate both targets together."
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Source: edition.cnn.com
