In 2018, Bumble banned images of guns from our platform. We know some members of our community have questions about this decision. Here, we answer the most common ones.

I don’t want to match with someone who owns or likes guns. How do I protect myself if I’m unable to see that they have them in their photos?

We encourage Bumble users to get to know one another and understand each other’s core values before meeting in person. If you’re opposed to guns, that could be something to include in your profile or mention in conversation.

How can I express my interests in hunting or going to shooting ranges?

You can include these hobbies, and any others, in the ‘About’ section of your profile to help potential matches get to know you better. You can also link your Instagram account to your Bumble profile, which will allow you to display up to 24 of your photos (but not your Instagram name or bio, so your privacy will be protected).

I’m not a violent person, so why can’t I have a gun in my profile?

You have a right to own a gun, and we aren’t banning gun users from Bumble. However, as mass shootings continue to devastate communities around the world, we aren’t willing to showcase guns on our platform. Guns simply don’t align with our values of kindness, respect, equality and empowerment. As our founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd told Time: “We want women — and men — to feel comfortable, to feel safe and feel secure. Weapons don’t send that message.”

We’re here to help make introductions, and you wouldn’t meet a potential date, new friend, or business contact while holding a gun, so they aren’t allowed on our app either.

What happens if I have a gun photo in my profile?

We have moderators working 24/7 to ensure that Bumble is a place where everyone feels safe, and that includes making sure that there aren’t any gun photos on our platform. The photo will be removed, and you’ll be notified that it was against our guidelines. If someone continues to post gun photos after being asked to take them down, they could be kicked off the app. 

Aren’t you worried about losing users?

We’ve been encouraged by the overwhelming support we’ve received to date, including from the brave survivors of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, which happened right before we enacted our ban. (When we implemented this ban, we also donated $100,000 to the Parkland survivors’ nonprofit March for Our Lives, and support students’ right to an education free of gun violence.) We will always put our values above our bottom line.

Ultimately, online behavior can both mirror and predict how people treat each other in the real world. Bumble has a responsibility to our community and a larger goal to encourage accountability offline. This photo ban is part of that.