The Bumble dating app is putting an end to body shame.
The company announced on Wednesday that the app would begin expelling members caught using “language that can be considered fat-phobic, capable, racist, colorist, homophobic or transphobic”.
The new restrictions will apply to users’ direct messages, as well as those with profiles that openly discriminate between different types of bodies.
“Shaming the body is not acceptable inside or outside the Bumble app,” says a statement from Bumble. “For those who don’t know, shaming the body means forcing your opinion about a ‘good body’ over others.”
An algorithm was set up to signal words and phrases associated with “body shame”, evaluated by a live moderator, according to the Guardian. Notices will be sent to users on their first offense – along with sensitivity training materials – before they are completely banned.
The Austin, Texas-based company wants to promote “a kinder, more respectful and more egalitarian space on the Internet,” said Naomi Walkland, who heads Bumble’s international marketing division. “The key to this has always been our zero-tolerance policy for racist and hate speech, abusive behavior and harassment.”
A 2016 survey by WooPlus, a dating app for oversized women, found that 71% of the 1,000 users who called themselves “curvaceous” were also ashamed of men in other dating apps. More broadly, a 2020 Pew study found that 33% of women in dating apps were called an offensive name by another user.
Fans of the Bumble women app – which encourages users to “take the first steps” – say the change is another reason they love the company.
“I am very interested to see how it works, and also EXTREMELY happy to see the launch,” music journalist tweeted Courtney E. Smith.
Some are calling other dating apps to take note.
“Maybe @Grindr could follow suit. This app is a cesspool of toxicity around the body and the race, ” said a fan of change.