David Brown

So, you looking for love?

Or maybe just a situation ship?

Or even someone who won't ghost you after three days?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, well, chances are you've tried the apps.

Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, maybe even Bumble.

And if you've ever swiped through profiles or watched someone else do it, you know the drill, right?

The endless profiles, carefully chosen photos, witty bios, the flicker of hope that this match might be different, and the crushing realization that it probably won't be.

For millions of women, Bumble once promised something better.

In 2014, 25-year-old entrepreneur Whitney Wolf launched Bumble with a simple but radical rule.

Women make the first move.

No unsolicited messages, no digital catcalling, no waiting around.

If a connection was going to happen, women decided when it started.

This gave women control, safety, a sense of power, something no other dating app was offering.

Women responded.

By 2019, it's estimated that Bumble had more than 10 million users worldwide.

In 2021, Wolf Hurd became the youngest woman ever to take a U.S.

company public.

She also became a media sensation, gracing the cover of Forbes, speaking to audiences around the world, a high-profile advocate for women's issues.

But lately, to some users, Bumble looks like it's swiping left on its own principles.

The app now lets men message first.