Bumble adds social media-esque handles

On Oct. 14, one day after announcing its acquisition, Bumble launched handles as a way for users to connect with each other.

Bumble Handles is meant to be a way to share contact information, but not your phone number or social media account. “Your private and professional networks aren’t necessarily where you want your dating life to begin,” Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd shared in a note about the new feature. “That’s why we’re launching Bumble Handles.”

Verified Bumble users can create a custom handle to easily tell people to “Find them on Bumble.” But making one is optional, and users can opt out of being discoverable by their handle at any time.

Exact handle names are required to search, and according to Wolfe Herd, “Discoverable doesn’t mean accessible.” While another user can express interest after finding someone else’s profile, mutual interest is still required to start a conversation. Bumble’s moderation guidelines apply when creating a handle, and the app stated it has put additional protections in place to reduce misuse, such as impersonation.

This is the latest in big changes that have come to the app this year, including how men can message women first in heterosexual matches. Yesterday, Bumble announced a deal to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings for $1.3 billion, and co-CEOs Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman have taken over from Wolfe Herd.

Bumble Handles are available to iOS users in the U.S.