When I downloaded Tinder, I was immediately creeped out. What my friends claimed to be a carefree and fun experience was nothing short of disturbing -- the process of guys deciding if I was worth the initial conversation based on a few photos of me was, in my mind, sanctioning the objectification of women that I was so desperately looking to avoid. I thought the thrill of swiping and getting attention would be freeing in a way (I had just gotten out of a looong relationship), but instead it felt the opposite. I vowed to never, ever sign up for a dating app again.
Fast forward to October, when I finally downloaded the wonder that is Bumble.
I had been seeing their name pop up on my social media for ages and finally decided it was time to give it a go. After just a few moments on the app, I was hooked.
Whitney Wolfe, co-founder of Tinder, developed the concept for Bumble after a dramatic exit from the company. Following her sexual harrassment charges about coworker Justin Mateen, she decided to re-shape the online dating sphere for ladies, giving them the power to initiate relationships on what has been dubbed the "feminist Tinder."
What sets the app apart from others is that women only have 24 hours to message their matches before they disappear forever. Talk about bringing the heat! This idea is perfect for women who are bold in the pursuit of meeting new people as well as women who are a little more shy when it comes to dating, since it pushes them out of their comfort zone and offers them a chance to develop newfound confidence. The app, which operates on a swipe-left swipe-right basis much like Tinder, lets users match with men, women or people of both genders.
While women are encouraged to #MakeTheFirstMove instead of guys on the Bumble app, the company is known to be supportive of women making the first moves in their professional and personal lives as well.
BumbleBFF, a subsection of the app, actually lets women swipe through profiles of potential new friends who have similar interests, hobbies and goals, while a large portion of Bumble's social media is dedicated to inspiring quotes for boss babes.
The company may be growing in size and popularity, but their undying commitment to their users makes their social media accounts feel like those of a dear friend.
Bumble recently caught wind of a user who was dining and dashing the women he was meeting on the app. Headquarters posted an Instagram story offering to reimburse users in the Los Angeles area who could provide proof of being taken advantage of by the same man. Their commitment to blocking "creeps" and "fuckboys" from the app makes the experience feel more safe than sorry.
To learn more about Bumble, visit their website. If you're already a part of the buzz and want to read about what's new, visit the BumbleBlog!
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