Bumble drops women-first messaging rule in bid to revive user engagement

Bumble on Tuesday said it would now allow either person in a match to send the first message, dropping the women-first messaging rule that has been a defining feature of the dating app since its launch in 2014. The move comes as dating-app companies grapple with user fatigue toward traditional swipe-based platforms and slowing growth, prompting some including Bumble and Tinder-owner Match Group to roll out new features and AI-powered tools aimed at improving engagement.