Dating App Bumble Bans Gun Profile Pictures In Wake Of Florida Shooting

The dating app Bumble has banned profile pictures that feature guns in the wake of the Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead.

Discussions on gun control have dominated headlines following the February 14 shooting, with student survivors demanding politicians take action on gun laws.

And the discussions have already had a knock-on effect, with several stores announcing they will no longer sell firearms to under-21s. Dating app Bumble has issued a ban on guns in profile pictures, with the exception of members of the military and law enforcement in uniform.

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“Online behavior can both mirror and predict how people treat each other in the real world. Bumble has a responsibility to our users and a larger goal to encourage accountability offline,” a statement from the dating app said.

“In the past, when we’ve had an opportunity to make our platform safer, we’ve taken action, banning hate speech and inappropriate sexual content from the Bumble app,” it continued.

“As mass shootings continue to devastate communities across the country, it’s time to state unequivocally that gun violence is not in line with our values, nor do these weapons belong on Bumble,” the statement added.

Posting the new rule to its site, Bumble explained to its users: “We were founded with safety, respect and kindness in mind. As mass shootings continue to devastate communities across the country, it’s time to state unequivocally that gun violence is not in line with our values, nor do these weapons belong on Bumble.”

In addition, the company announced it would be making a $100,000 donation to the student-organized March For Our Lives movement, which is organizing a march on Washington D.C. on March 24 and is also calling for people to march in their own communities to demand action on gun control legislation.