Bumble launches dedicated app for BFF mode to foster friendships

Dating app Bumble has released a standalone app to cater to people looking for platonic connections in the Philippines called 'Bumble for Friends'. The new app follows the success of its BFF mode on the main app that has been available since 2016.

The new app is available to download for users in the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States with more regions to come. It also has the ability to allow users to port their profiles over from the main Bumble app.

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Although BFF mode will not be available to users once they port their profiles, the Date and Bizz functionality will remain.

"While many people know us as being in the business of romance, friendship is just as important to our mission, which is why we are so excited by the launch of the Bumble for Friends app in the Philippines," said Lucille McCart, Bumble’s APAC communications director.

"Recent research has shown us that the majority of Gen Zs want to make new friends, but they don’t know where to meet people and are intimidated by approaching people in real life," she continued while adding that the app hopes to make the process of meeting new friends easier.

On Bumble for Friends, users indicate their interests and the type of friends they are looking for when creating their profiles and will retain the same format as its main app where individuals swipe through other profiles.

The new app will also include a group chat functionality to provide its users the opportunity to plan meetups with pre-written prompts for activities such as “something outdoors” and “games night”.

"With feelings of loneliness and isolation at an all-time high, now more than ever is a time to prioritise self-love and friendships for our well-being," said Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble’s founder and CEO.

"Having a dedicated Bumble for Friends app that’s separate from the dating experience makes friendship-finding easier for people looking to make meaningful platonic connections in their area,” Herd elaborated.

Recently, in Singapore, Bumble, launched a new suite of features on its app designed to highlight users' love (or distaste) of durian to potential matches during this durian season. These features include durian interest badges, question and profile prompts.

The Bumble community in Singapore has the option to select from two durian-related question games including, “Durian: love it or hate it?” and “How would you describe durian to someone who has never had it". In addition to the questions, Bumble users can select the profile prompt, “My strong opinion about durian is that…”.

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