The Bumble dating app puts the kibosh on the shame of the body.
The company announced on Wednesday that the application will start throwing trapped members using “a language that can be considered fat-phobic, capable, racist, colorist, homophobic or transphobic.”
The new restrictions will apply to direct messages from users, as well as to those with profiles that openly discriminate between different body types.
“The body’s shame function is not acceptable on or off the Bumble application,” a Bumble statement said. “For those who may not know, shame of the body means forcing your opinion of a ‘good body’ on others.”
An algorithm was created to signal the words and phrases associated with “body shame,” then evaluated by a live moderator, according to The Guardian. Warnings will then be sent to users at the first offense – along with sensitivity training materials – before being banned altogether.
The Austin, Texas-based company wants to promote “a kinder, more respectful and equal space on the Internet,” said Naomi Walkland, who heads Bumble’s overseas 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 large women, found that 71% of 1,000 users who called themselves “curved” had also been embarrassed by men in other dating apps. More generally, a 2020 Pew study found that 33% of women using dating apps were named an offensive name by another user.
Fans of the Bumble women’s-centric app – which urges the user to “make the first move” – say the move is another reason they love the company.
“I’m very interested to see how this works and I’m also EXTREMELY happy to see it released.” wrote a music journalist on Twitter Courtney E. Smith.
Some require other dating apps to take note.
“Perhaps @Grindr could follow suit. That application is a pit of toxicity around the body and race. ” said a fan of change.