Bumble is Testing Speed Dating Feature and Adding Voting Badge

Bumble is testing a new speed dating feature in the U.K. to see how effective it is in getting users to engage with each other over the app.

According to Tech Crunch, the company has been alerting U.K. users to a specific date and time when the virtual speed dating event happens, so they can choose to join. When they do, they are not shown their dates’ photos up front – instead, they briefly chat before photos are revealed.

Tech Crunch did share how the feature worked, and that it’s being presented as a game rather than an event (referring to attendees as “players” who click a “play game” button to start). Participants must agree to some rules (similar to Facebook’s speed dating app Sparked), where they are asked to “keep it respectful” before they can play. They also must agree to not ask about their date’s looks – the reveal comes later, after the two have decided there’s a connection. Each couple is given three minutes to chat before they can see each other’s photos.

How to use Speed Dating on Bumble

Image: Bumble speed-dating feature via Watchful

Bumble did not confirm that it was testing this feature or give details when Tech Crunch reached out to them, so there’s no information on when or how – or even if - it might be rolled out.

While Bumble is keeping quiet about the new speed dating feature, it did announce it will be adding a new “Voter” badge for users to pin to their profiles ahead of the midterm elections. This move is intended to engage younger users who are politically active and want to know where their dates stand on issues.

"Similar to how people proudly wear their 'I Voted!' sticker in real life, we want this to be a way for people to show their voter pride and maybe even spark a conversation," said Samantha García, Bumble's marketing director for the Americas, in an interview with Axios.

The moves are both intended to engage and draw users to Bumble, but neither feature is particularly new for dating app users. Tech Crunch pointed out that Facebook’s speed dating platform Sparked folded earlier this year after failing to attract users with virtual events, and Tinder already offers a feature called Blind Date where users can virtually chat with each other during a specified time and decide if they want to continue.

In addition, Hinge, Match and OkCupid also offer Voter badges so users can see how politically engaged their matches are.

Bumble wouldn’t commit that its speed dating feature would be officially added to its offerings, with its spokesperson noting: “Like all tests, we will collect feedback before deciding if we roll it out more widely.” 

For more on this dating service, you can check out our Bumble dating app review.