Bumble drops women-first chat rule as dating apps seek engagement boost

Bumble on Tuesday said it would begin allowing 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 across the globe 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 artificial intelligence-powered ‌tools aimed at improving engagement.