Key Takeaways

Blocking is the first line of defense against predators on dating apps. Now, some Bumble users claim the app has tried to match them with people they’ve blocked. 

“Bumble will show you people you have swiped left/blocked on in the past — in case you have changed your mind,” a member of Bumble’s support team told a woman who complained about seeing accounts she’d already blocked. This message was verified by Rolling Stone and Professor Jennie Young of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. 

Now, dating app users aren’t convinced that dating apps take blocks seriously. 

Dating app users recently took to Reddit to share their stories about blocks gone wrong, and one woman even shared her personal experience with DatingNews.

Bumble’s Support Team’s Response Has Confused Users 

Concerned by the notion that Bumble simply recycles blocked accounts, the original Bumble user once again reached out for clarification from Bumble. A different customer service representative said that blocked accounts aren’t recycled by the app itself, but by people who delete their accounts and create new ones to bypass a block. 

Still, the original complainent wasn’t convinced. 

“These are not new accounts,” she allegedly told another customer service representative. “I know this because I tested this theory by logging off and then immediately on again and ALL of the profiles that I took the time to block were there again. Within a minute.” 

Bumble’s response to this claim only heightened the confusion. 

“I would like to clarify that you should not be seeing someone you have previously hidden or blocked, and the information shared with you previously was inaccurate,” yet another member of the support team said. 

The prospect of Bumble recycling blocked profiles is alarming, and it goes against the Apple App Store and Google Play’s policies that require dating apps to have blocking functionality. 

“To prevent abuse, apps with user-generated content or social networking services must include the ability to block abusive users from the service,” according to Apple’s App Review Guidelines. 

Bumble denies recycling blocked accounts, but its response to the user’s blocking issues has created more confusion than clarity, raising doubts about how effective blocking features really are on dating apps. 

A Broken Blocking Feature Would Put Users Face-to-Face With Danger 

The fallout from broken blocking features can be more emotionally devastating than some apps may expect.

“Can you imagine how traumatizing it’s going to be for the women who were sexually assaulted to suddenly see the man they’ve blocked back on their feed?!” u/StillSwaying wrote on Reddit. 

It’s not difficult to understand why consumers may not want to pay for a dating app that allegedly ignores widespread safety concerns. 

Another Redditor, u/redskyatnight_1, said, “If I were in the dating sphere, I would 100% refuse to give my hard earned money to a company or companies who aren’t even the least bit dedicated to ensuring my safety.” 

Bumble’s response to growing concerns about the effectiveness of the “blocking” button is a hot topic, but Bumble is not the only app to allow blocked users to slip through the cracks. 

On Reddit, users have reported similar experiences on OkCupid, eharmony, and POF. 

DatingNews also spoke to a user of a different dating app who claimed it not only continued to show her the profile of a man she blocked, but continued to show him her profile.

“I Was Very Uncomfortable That He Could Still See My Profile”

“He gave off really creepy vibes,” this dating app user, who chose to remain anonymous, told us of their first date. “I felt like he kept trying to touch me, which I kept resisting, and he made some comments that made him seem misogynistic and kind of inappropriate. I left the date as soon as I could.” 

When he reached out for another date, she respectfully declined — much to his chagrin. “He … kept calling and texting me nonstop (from different numbers as I kept blocking them). Found me on every social media platform I have and tried to call and message me.”

She described his messages as “angry” and told us he questioned her decision to break things off. 

She blocked him on the dating app, on social media, and from her phone contacts, but he still found ways to contact her. An internet search revealed disturbing information. “It turns out he has a criminal history for arrests which all seemed similar to stalking (like breaking and entering),” she told us. 

She reported him to the dating app, and he was eventually blocked. This didn’t stop his profile from popping up on her feed, however. 

“It was upsetting,” she told us. “He liked me again at least twice, but of course I never matched with him again. And it showed me his profile at least once more, but of course I did not ‘like’ him.” 

Still, his profile was a continued reminder of what she’d been through — and that he was still allowed to contact other women on the app. 

“I was very uncomfortable that he could still see my profile and that they showed him to me as a potential match,” she said. 

Bumble’s Promise to “Deliver a Platform that Listens”

Now, back to Bumble. Its alleged missteps have cast a shadow over its long-held claims of being a “female first” dating app.

Bumble in particular was not only created to empower women daters, but to prioritize their safety as well. The app even recently reaffirmed its commitment to safety in an open letter to its users. 

“We are about actions, not just words,” Bumble’s founder, Whitney Wolfe Herd, recently wrote in an open letter following her reappointment to CEO. “We are going to be hard at work to deliver a dating experience that puts you first — your safety, wellbeing, trust, and your success.” 

Wolfe Herd said that Bumble is “going to be hard at work to deliver a platform that listens. New ways to share your voice and connect with your community are coming soon, because Bumble should be built alongside the people who use it.” 

She signed off with a promise. 

“Your voice matters and we are listening. We welcome your feedback on how Bumble can be better for you.” 

Bumble told DatingNews that the initial customer service message — the one that claimed Bumble recycled blocked accounts — was sent in error. The app has since attempted to clarify its stance on blocking: 

“We want to make it clear to our community that Bumble does not recycle blocked or hidden profiles,” a Bumble spokesperson told DatingNews. “The safety and well-being of our community is our top priority, so once a member is blocked or hidden, they will no longer appear to you, and you will no longer appear to them.”

They added, “We have measures in place to prevent this behavior, and we are continuously evolving and strengthening our moderation methods to protect our members.”

Bumble’s spokesperson advised users who encounter accounts they’ve already blocked on the app to contact customer service and make an official report.