Bumble wants you to verify your identity

Bumble is rolling out optional ID verification, adding badges to user profiles for individuals who have confirmed their identity using government-issued ID cards. This feature is part of various safety updates, including a new Share Date function designed to share date plans with trusted contacts.

The ID verification feature is currently available in 11 markets, including the United States and United Kingdom, with plans for future expansion. Users need to upload a copy of a government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license, and submit a selfie. Although participation in this verification is not mandatory, users who choose to verify will receive a badge on their profile, allowing others to filter for verified users and request verification from their matches.

Bumble’s new Share Date feature enables users to communicate their planned date details directly to friends or family, including options to update these details through the app if plans change. According to Bumble, 67 percent of U.S. dating app users it surveyed last month already share date information with their friends, aiming to streamline that process.

Additionally, Bumble has enhanced its messaging capabilities by notifying users who attempt to send chat messages that do not comply with the app’s community guidelines. This alert system, previously limited to the Compliments feature, will now apply to regular chat messages as well.

Both the ID verification and Share Date features reflect similar offerings already in place on Tinder. Tinder first introduced its ID verification in Japan in 2019 and extended it globally last year. Rival Tinder also launched a “Share My Date” feature in April 2024.

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Amid these updates, Bumble’s founder, Whitney Wolfe Herd, has returned as CEO following a turbulent period for the company that included the departure of its chief financial and marketing officers earlier this year. Bumble’s business and technology officers are also scheduled to leave in the coming months.

In addition to ID verification and Share Date, Bumble has unveiled several new features aimed at improving user safety and engagement. The company has introduced a system to flag inappropriate messages before they are sent, reminding users to edit flagged content. Furthermore, Bumble launched a Discover page that allows users to find matches based on shared interests and intentions, refreshing profiles daily.

The ID verification feature and related initiatives come as AI technology makes it increasingly challenging to discern genuine dating profiles from fake ones and as romance scams become more prevalent. The feature is currently available across multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, France, India, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Mexico, and New Zealand, with plans for further expansion.

Bumble’s latest updates are part of the company’s effort to restore growth to the platform after experiencing a 3.8% decline in quarterly app revenue to $212.4 million in the fourth quarter.

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