Dating app to ban pictures and mentions of guns: 'Gun violence is not in line with our values

The dating app Bumble plans to ban guns from profile photos and mentions of guns from written text, making a statement against gun violence in America, the New York Times reported.

Bumble has nearly 30 million users, and the company will review all new and existing photos for compliance with the new policy.

Why are they doing this?

“As mass shootings continue to devastate communities across the country, it’s time to state unequivocally that gun violence is not in line with our values, nor do these weapons belong on Bumble,” the company said in a statement.

Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd told the Times that her company wants to take a more aggressive approach to moderating content than other social media sites.

“Compared to what’s going on with Facebook and Twitter, we take a very proactive approach,” Herd said. “If I could police every other social platform in the world, I would.”

Bumble’s policy on guns is similar to how the social network treats nudity, hate speech, and fake photos, and will also include other dangerous weapons like knives.

“We just want to create a community where people feel at ease, where they do not feel threatened, and we just don’t see guns fitting into that equation,” Herd said to the Times.

Are there exceptions?

Military members and law enforcement officers will be allowed to display photos with guns on their profile as long as they are in uniform, and sport shooters may be able to appeal to use photos featuring guns.

“This is not super black and white. It’s a very tricky battle we’ve chosen to take on, but I’d rather pursue this than just ignore it,” Herd said.

Bumble’s gun control activism

Bumble has donated $100,000 to March For Our Lives, a group formed by Parkland school shooting survivors, and said, “We stand with them, and join them in working towards a non-violent future.”