Like any dating platform, Bumble also aims to provide the best user experience by discouraging spam, bots, and disingenuous behavior.
So what exactly constitutes “bad behavior” on Bumble? And is the company essentially shadowbanning profiles by making them less visible? Let’s find out.
What Is Shadowbanning?
First, let’s understand what shadowbanning is.
Shadowbanning refers to blocking or partially blocking a user’s content or profile without their knowledge. The user does not realize they have been shadowbanned because nothing indicates their blocked status. They can continue using the platform as normal, except their content/profile has been made invisible to other users.
For example, if Bumble shadowbanned your profile:
- You would not get any notification about it.
- You could continue swiping and messaging as usual.
- But your profile would not show up for most other members to view or match with.
So it seems like the platform is working fine from your end, but you wonder why you suddenly have fewer matches than before.
That’s essentially what shadowbanning does.
So does Bumble actually shadowban users secretly?
Does Bumble Shadowban Profiles?
No, Bumble does not shadowban anyone without notification. That does not align with their values of transparency and giving users control.
However, if you repeatedly violate their community guidelines, Bumble can ban your device, account, or profile. And they will inform you about these bans.
For example, if you harass other members, spread misinformation, etc. then Bumble will first warn you and eventually block you if you continue such behavior.
These overt account bans are different from sneaky shadowbanning though.
But what if you feel your profile views and matches have suddenly dropped on Bumble, even though your account seems active?
Let’s explore why that happens.
Why You May Get Fewer Matches After Recreating Your Bumble Profile
Bumble themselves clearly state that they do not shadowban anyone. Yet many users report losing matches and visibility after remaking a profile.
What exactly is going on here?
The thing is, while Bumble does not intentionally hide your new profile, recreating it multiple times can indirectly make it less visible to others. Here are the reasons why:
1. Profile Fatigue
Bumble has a huge user base of over 100 million users.
With so many profiles in circulation, even if a small portion recreates theirs continuously, others may view repeated profiles as spammy.
Seeing your profile too often in a short period can lead to “profile fatigue”.
Even if users liked your profile the first one or two times, seeing multiple versions of it can get annoying. Some may assume it’s a fake profile or bot if it pops up too frequently.
So they start reacting more negatively or ignoring your profile when they see it again after you’ve recreated it. Leading to fewer matches.
2. Assumed Spam Behavior
Along similar lines, if someone views your profile multiple times in quick succession, they may assume something fishy is going on.
Perhaps they’ll think your profile is spam or a scam trying to promote something. So they’ll be more likely to swipe left or report your profile.
While you have valid reasons for recreating it, others don’t know that. All they see is the same profile popping up repeatedly, which raises red flags to them.
3. Reset Profile Views
Moreover, when you delete your Bumble profile and recreate it, your profile views and likes get reset to zero every time.
So even if some members had already liked or viewed you positively, all that progress gets erased whenever you restart your profile.
This means you never gain enough positive impressions for the Bumble algorithm to start showing your profile higher in others’ queues.
4. Reduced Visibility for New Profiles
Additionally, recent research shows that Bumble tends to display established profiles that have gained likes, matches, and some positive reinforcement already.
So old profiles with proven engagement get priority over freshly created ones.
Every time you recreate your profile, it has to start gaining visibility points from scratch. Without that social proof, the platform’s algorithms show it less until it gains traction again.
So altogether, even if Bumble isn’t intentionally hiding your profile completely after you recreate it, there are logical reasons why you may get fewer profile views and matches compared to before.
It’s not shadowbanning per se. Just natural consequences of remaking profiles too rapidly.
What About Snoozing Your Profile Instead?
Instead of deleting then recreating your profile to reset stats or get a break, a safer alternative is snoozing your Bumble account temporarily.
Snoozing removes your profile from view for other users for up to 24 hours, 30 days, or indefinitely – without deleting any previous data.
So when you unsnooze afterward, your profile views, matches, messages, etc. remain intact from before rather than resetting from scratch.
This preserves your visibility momentum rather than sabotaging it. Leading to more consistent profile reach rather than starting over each time.
Some key benefits of snoozing instead of recreating your profile:
- No risk of getting banned for suspicious behavior of making repetitive profiles. Snoozing is built into the app officially for taking breaks.
- Avoid accusations of being fake or spammy since others don’t see your profile disappear and resurrect repeatedly like nothing happened.
- Preserve your progress regarding accumulated profile views, likes, matches, etc. that help increase your visibility.
- Cool off without compromising your presence on the platform long-term if you just need a quick dating detox.
So for visibility, consistency, and continuity – snoozing is a safer bet than deleting your profile repeatedly.
How to Boost Your Profile If You See Fewer Matches
If despite best practices, you still notice a drop in profile views and matches at any point, here are some constructive ways to give it a boost:
Update Profile Details
Freshen up your photos, bio, profile prompts, etc. Changing even small details can update the algorithms about your profile activity, prompting it to show you to more users again.
Use Profile Badges
Badges visually highlight desirable traits like your hobbies, values, accolades etc. Displaying relevant badges boosts profile clicks and attraction, leading to more matches.
Connect Your Spotify Account
Syncing Spotify conveys your musical tastes in a fun, interactive way. This social proof and icebreaker also perks audiences’ interest, driving engagement.
Promote Your Instagram
Linking Instagram lets viewers check out your full lifestyle and personality right on your profile. The cross-platform visibility and content can enhance your overall appeal drastically.
Check Back Daily
It may sound basic, but being more active yourself also fuels your visibility. Daily logins, swipes, messages, etc. signal the app to showcase you more based on user demand.
Contact Bumble Support
If issues continue despite your best efforts, reaching out to customer support will clarify if there are underlying technical issues or get personalized guidance to resolve visibility problems.
So in summary:
- Does Bumble shadowban? No, there is no evidence of outright secret shadowbanning without notification.
- However, recreating your profile too often can indirectly reduce your visibility due to others’ suspicions and the app’s algorithm biases.
- Aim to limit profile restarts to 1-2 times per year max for consistency.
- Or use built-in Snooze options to safely take profile breaks instead of deleting it.
Staying mindful of these best practices will help ensure your profile remains visible and successful on Bumble without sabotaging your presence.
Focus on keeping your one profile fun and engaging long-term rather than relying on restarts for temporary boosts. With constructive habits, you’ll see consistently positive results on Bumble and other dating apps thriving with real relationship-seekers.
