Bumble

Bumble drops women-first messaging rule

Bumble announced that it is removing the long-standing requirement that only women can send the first message in heterosexual matches; now either person in a match can initiate conversation. The app is also extending the response window from 24 to 72 hours. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd described the change as an evolution of the company's women-first mission. Bumble cited survey data indicating 66% of surveyed women prefer men to send the first message and that a longer reply window improves experience for over half of respondents. The update follows prior relaxations (e.g., 2024’s Opening Moves) and comes as Bumble reports declining revenue — Q2 revenue fell 15.2% year-over-year to $210.5 million — and explores product directions like swipe-free experiences, in-person events, and AI features.

Bumble pivots to IRL meetups, teases swipe-free future

Bumble announced early success for its new Plans app, which facilitates low-pressure, in-person group meetups, and signaled a strategic shift away from the traditional swipe model. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd told investors on the company's Q2 earnings call that Plans showed "promising results" and that Bumble will lean more into real-life experiences and a new interaction model to replace the swipe. The company said it will use more AI tools behind the scenes while avoiding an "AI-driven" user experience. Bumble reported Q2 revenue of $210.5 million, down 15.2% year-over-year, and noted concerns about paying-user declines reflected in its Q3 forecast and stock reaction.

Derek Thompson on the 'Antisocial Century'

This is a transcript of an interview with journalist and author Derek Thompson about his thesis that contemporary society is entering an "antisocial century": people increasingly choose solitude because digital entertainment is cheap and the physical world is relatively expensive. Thompson traces long-term declines in socializing, dating, marriage and childbirth, cites research linking social connection to happiness and longevity, and discusses economic and regulatory drivers (cost disease, housing supply) that push people indoors. He describes young men as "monks in the casino"—socially withdrawn but taking risky online bets—and argues for public awareness, infrastructure investment, and individual social practice (leave your room, make friends, be interested) as partial remedies. The conversation also touches on moderation vs. optimization in health, generational politics (rise of socialist-leaning cohorts), and the creator-economy shift toward platforms like Substack.