Our Unique COVID-19 Situation:
Due to the current global pandemic, it has become extremely difficult to meet new people and form connections, which has been a hard pill to swallow for a lot of people, including myself. As someone who is relatively extroverted, I have been craving a setting in which I could just get to know others better. Despite many of the extracurriculars that I am a part of, where I work to set up virtual networking events, it has felt extremely forced. When I was given the opportunity to try out Bumble, I decided to give it a shot. After a few weeks of testing it out, I came to the conclusion that it is, in fact, the best way to virtually meet new people.
The Set-Up Process:
After downloading the app, the user is prompted to answer a few basic questions to create their profile, as well as include some pictures. Much of this process was expected, until I got to the part where I could pick prompts that I wanted to answer to add some personality to my profile. Not only was it fun to go through and answer those questions, but I also liked that Bumble allows its users to disclose their interests. This allowed the platform to be less superficial, which is extremely difficult to do on most online dating apps.
Another aspect of Bumble that makes it unique from other apps is that the user can decide to choose between three different modes: Bumble Date, Bumble BFF, and Bumble Bizz. I didn’t try out the Bumble Bizz mode as I personally didn’t really have a use for it, however, I did try out the other two and loved them. This app requires the girl to reach out to the boy first, which reverses the gender norm of the guy initiating a conversation. This fosters a sense of comfort and security for women who may be intimidated by men DMing them and allows them to be more at ease. The Bumble BFF mode was also a great experience, as I have never used anything like that before. Especially with COVID-19, it has been really difficult to meet new people. Although I love the friends I currently have, I have been wanting to make more friends in a safe manner, and this is a perfect way to do so!
Final Thoughts:
Bumble truly does cater to a large group of people regardless of what they’re looking for, ranging from a significant other to a new friend to professional networking. This app goes above and beyond what a more traditional dating app would offer and focuses more on connecting people in different facets of their lives rather than just romantically. I would swipe right on Bumble over any other dating app any day, and it’s definitely worth trying out at least once.