Bumble Will Allow Non-Binary Users To Make The First Move
When Bumble was founded in 2014, it begin on the principle of enabling women to “make the first move,” only allowing those who identified as female to start a conversation with their matches.
Now, in a step towards greater inclusivity, the online dating platform has reassessed its gender options, and in collaboration with LGBTQ+ rights organization GLAAD, is taking a step to make the application more welcoming to non-binary users.
When asked to select their gender, users will now be able to choose from “man,” “woman,” or “non-binary,” and add on a slew of descriptors to share more about how they identify, including “transfeminine,” “intersex man,” or “polygender.”
If there isn’t a fitting description, one can let Bumble know about the inclusion by selecting “tell us if we’re missing something” at the bottom of their list. Users will be allowed to decide if they wish to display their gender information on their profile, or keep it private.
From here on, for matches with at least one non-binary individual, either party will be able to send the first message, although women will still have to make the first move when talking to men. In addition, on Bumble BFF, users can now connect with people of any gender, instead of only the same gender previously.
According to Mashable, this change comes after a pilot trial drew the ire of non-binary users when they weren’t allowed to message women first. A user told the news site that although it was affirming that the application understood they weren’t a woman, it was inconvenient to not be able to start the conversation first.
Having taken into account the comments, Bumble says it’s striving to be “as inclusive as possible” and will continue to expand its features based on user feedback.
“At Bumble, we’re dedicated to creating an app that’s as inclusive as possible for our community. We’re constantly seeking new ways to make sure your experience is both positive and empowering, whether you’re looking for a romantic connection on Bumble or a new friend on Bumble BFF,” the platform elaborates.
