Bumble adds social media-esque handles
A day after the announcement of its acquisition, Bumble launches Handles
On October 14, Bumble announced the launch of handles, a feature aimed at enabling users to connect with each other outside of their phone numbers and social media accounts. Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd explained that traditional networks may not be the best starting points for dating, which led to the creation of Bumble Handles.
Verified users can create a personalized handle to make it easier for others to find them on the platform. However, creating a handle is not mandatory, and users have the option to opt-out from being discoverable by their handle at any time. Exact handle names are required for searching, and mutual interest is necessary to initiate a conversation, even if another user expresses interest after finding someone else's profile.
Bumble has implemented moderation guidelines and additional protections to minimize misuse, such as impersonation. This new feature follows a series of significant changes in 2026, including the acquisition of Bumble by Ithaca Holdings for $1.3 billion, resulting in the co-CEOs Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman taking over from Wolfe Herd. Bumble Handles are currently accessible to iOS users in the United States.
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