Category: Bumble

AI Takes Over Dating Apps as Companies Bet on Smarter Matchmaking

Posted on November 4, 2025
AI Takes Over Dating Apps as Companies Bet on Smarter Matchmaking

NEW YORK TIMES – Artificial intelligence is reshaping online dating. Startups like Known and major platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are replacing endless swiping with A.I. tools that offer curated matches and coaching. Users can pay per match or date instead of monthly subscriptions. Match Group’s new A.I. algorithms have increased matches on Hinge by 15%, while Tinder is testing “Chemistry,” an A.I. feature that analyzes photos to improve matching. Bumble and Grindr are developing similar tools. The shift comes as user satisfaction and paid subscriptions decline, prompting dating apps to bet on A.I. as the next phase of online matchmaking.

See full article at New York Times

Bumble Expands ‘Opening Moves’ Feature App-Wide

Posted on October 27, 2025
Bumble Opening Moves feature

FINDARTICLES – Bumble has rolled out its Opening Moves feature across the app, replacing its long-standing women-message-first rule in heterosexual matches. Now, all users can start conversations by responding to up to three prompts added to profiles, such as “Two truths and a lie.” The feature aims to make first messages more engaging and eliminate generic openers like “hey.” The app still works on the standard mutual-like model, with matches expiring after 24 hours unless someone messages. Free users can extend one match daily; paid subscribers get unlimited extensions and extra perks. Bumble offers three subscription tiers: Boost, Premium, and Premium+, priced up to ~$32.99 per week, adding visibility tools like Spotlight, SuperSwipes, Travel Mode, and Incognito Mode.

See full article at FindArticles

Bumble Launches Revamped BFF App Focused on Community and Real-Life Friendships

Posted on October 23, 2025
Bumble BFF

THE EVERY GIRL – Bumble has relaunched its friend-finding platform as a standalone BFF app, completely separate from its dating app. Built on Geneva, the community platform Bumble acquired in 2023, the new version focuses on group connections, community building, and improved safety. The app lets users join or create interest-based groups, like yoga, reading, or thrifting, chat with locals, and plan real-life meetups directly within the app using its new “Plans” feature.

See full article at The Every Girl

Bumble Launches BFF as Stand-Alone App

Posted on September 19, 2025
Bumble BFF app

FAST COMPANY – Bumble has spun off its friendship feature into a stand-alone app, BFF, positioning it as part of “The Great Frienaissance.” The app, now live in the U.S., uses interest-based matching, photo prompts, and a new Groups section powered by technology from community platform Geneva, which Bumble acquired in 2024. Research commissioned by Bumble shows 55% of young adults want more local friends, and one in four want friends to attend events with.

See full article at Fast Company

Bumble’s “For The Love of Love” Reframes Subscriptions as Investments in Romance

Posted on September 18, 2025
Bumble For the Love of Love

THE DRUM – Bumble’s “For The Love of Love” campaign shows soft-focus scenes of real couples, handholding, kitchen dancing, dinner parties, even a baby bump, to frame its £30–£40 subscriptions as an investment in future happiness. The strategy shifts the app from a short-term dopamine hit to a long-term identity-driven purchase, asking users to stay subscribed with the promise that patience will pay off. The campaign leans on System 2 storytelling, using romantic imagery and social proof to normalize delay, positioning subscriptions as comparable to a gym membership rather than an impulse buy.

See full article at The Drum

Dating Apps Under Fire: Safety Warnings Aren’t Enough

Posted on September 16, 2025
Dating Apps Under Fire: Safety Warnings Aren't Enough

LSJ ONLINE – Attacks and scams on dating apps have surged, with Australia seeing reports more than double in the past year. Courts have sentenced offenders ranging from adult gangs to teenagers exploiting the platform. Grindr has issued in-app safety alerts and cooperates with law enforcement, but critics argue that warnings aren’t enough. Australia’s new Online Dating Code, signed by major apps including Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr, requires safety measures, transparency reports, and stronger user protections. Still, legal experts stress that apps face growing expectations to go beyond alerts, with calls for identity verification, real-time cooperation with police, and proactive safeguards to stop predators before harm occurs.

See full article at LSJ Online

Cybersecurity Scan Flags Weaknesses Across Major Dating Apps

Posted on September 4, 2025

GLOBE NEWSWIRE – A recent analysis by the cybersecurity platform Business Digital Index (BDI) suggests that many dating apps may have security gaps, with most of the 24 platforms studied receiving poor grades in its scoring system. Only Bumble and EliteSingles scored in the “B” range, while others were marked lower, and some, including Coffee Meets Bagel and Zoosk, received failing grades. The report highlighted recurring weaknesses such as unpatched software, weak email authentication, TLS encryption issues, and web application flaws. BDI notes that its findings are based on external scans of publicly visible systems rather than full internal audits.

See full article at GlobeNewswire

Whitney Wolfe Herd Is Developing New AI Matchmaking App to Move Beyond Swiping

Posted on September 1, 2025
A person holding a smartphone displaying a dating app with profile pictures and names on the screen.

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Bumble is developing a new AI-powered matchmaking app, separate from its core platform, with a beta release planned for fall. Built on attachment theory and informed by psychologists, the app will use relationship history and user conversations to create profiles, generate matches, and even help plan dates. The goal is to move beyond swiping and superficial traits toward deeper compatibility. At the same time, improvements are being made to the existing app by pushing users to complete stronger profiles. The initiative comes as the company faces falling market value, user fatigue with swiping, and broader industry struggles with growth and retention.

See full article at Wall Street Journal

Podcast With Whitney Wolfe Herd, Adam Cohen-Aslatei, and Steven Cole on Why Modern Dating Feels Broken

Posted on August 25, 2025

BumbleWBUR – On this episode of WBUR's On Point, host Amory Sivertson speaks with Whitney Wolfe Herd, CEO of Bumble; Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of matchmaking company Three Day Rule; and Steven Cole, founder of Lunge, a dating app that connects people through fitness communities like gyms and run clubs. Whitney acknowledged that dating apps have left many people feeling exhausted. She said swiping has distorted human interaction by offering too much choice without enough context, reducing people to quick judgments. Returning to Bumble after stepping away, she wants to overhaul the app to emphasize safety, compatibility, and more complete profiles, moving away from gamification and shallow engagement. Adam Cohen-Aslatei said dating apps encourage treating people like objects, with quick photo-based judgments. At Three Day Rule, he focuses on matching through shared values and long-term compatibility, using feedback from dates to improve results. He argued dating is a skill people aren't taught, which makes the process harder. Steven Cole of Lunge noted that men often need 1,500 likes for one date on apps, and said in-person meetups like run clubs create more authentic connections.

See full article at WBUR

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Bumble Q2 2025 Financial Results

Posted on August 8, 2025

Bumble incBUSINESSWIRE – Bumble's total revenue decreased 8% to $248M. Bumble app revenue decreased 7.6% to $201M, compared to $218M in Q2 2024. Badoo app and other revenue decreased 7.5% to $47M. Total paying users decreased 8.7% to 3.8M. Net loss was $367M, which included $405M of non-cash impairment charges, compared to net earnings of $38M, or 14% of revenue.

See full article at Bumble website

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team