Campaign featured taglines implying dating app use was superior to celibacy.
Dating app Bumble faced backlash for campaign dismissing celibacy as an alternative to using their platform.
In recent weeks, the dating app Bumble found itself in hot water over a series of billboard ads and commercials that appeared to dismiss celibacy as an alternative to using their platform for romantic connections. The campaign, which featured taglines such as
An anti-celibacy ad campaign was rolled out by Bumble
Many young women have opted for celibacy due to toxic, degrading, or dangerous experiences with dating apps
Accuracy
Bumble has been criticized for encouraging women to solve their dating problems by having sex instead of addressing the valid reasons for celibacy
A vow of celibacy is not the answer
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position against Bumble's anti-celibacy campaign. The author also uses emotional manipulation by implying that women who choose celibacy are making a wrong decision and should be encouraged to have sex instead. Additionally, there is a lie by omission as the article fails to mention that Bumble has stated they will continue to allow users to opt out of receiving matches if they prefer not to engage in dating or hookup culture.
The campaign seems to be responding to the increasing conversation around voluntary celibacy among young women, many of whom say they find dating and hookup culture so toxic, degrading, or dangerous that they’ve opted out altogether.
A lot of them said the billboards were a great reminder of why they chose celibacy in the first place – including Julia Fox, who commented on one post, ‘2.5 years of celibacy and never been better tbh.’
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting TikTokers and Julia Fox without providing any context or evidence that they represent the majority of women who have opted for celibacy. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing dating apps as 'questionable background-checking practices' and 'rampant harassment' without providing any concrete examples or evidence.
]A lot of them said the billboards were a great reminder of why they chose celibacy in the first place[
The new billboards, which dismiss a decision that many women say made them feel safer and more powerful,
Bias
(80%)
The author expresses a dismissive attitude towards the decision of women to choose celibacy and implies that they are making a mistake by doing so. This is an example of ideological bias as the author holds a certain belief (that women should not choose celibacy) and presents it as if it is objective truth.
Dating apps, with their gamified format, questionable background-checking practices, and rampant harassment, have been criticized as part of the problem – and, though Bumble originally claimed to set itself aside by empowering women to make the first move, it’s never been clear how our lived experiences on the app are all that different from, say, Tinder or Hinge. The new billboards, which dismiss a decision that many women say made them feel safer and more powerful,\u201d
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Bumble responded to the backlash in a statement sent to The Cut. \u201CWe have heard the concerns shared about the ad’s language,\u201D she wrote, \u201Cand understand that rather than highlighting a current sentiment towards dating, it may have had a negative impact on some of our community. This was not our intention and we are in the process of removing it from our marketing campaign.”
Bumble faced backlash for a sex-focused ad campaign with the tagline ‘A vow of celibacy is not the answer.’
Some women were shocked and called out Bumble for encouraging casual sex or rape culture.
Many women have criticized Bumble for not keeping them safe and contributing to a pro-casual-sex dating culture.
Voluntary celibacy has become an increasingly hot topic for women who are frustrated with abuse and trauma while dating.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The author uses emotional manipulation by quoting women's reactions to the Bumble ad campaign and implying that they are representative of all women. The author also engages in selective reporting by only mentioning the backlash against the ads and not providing any context about Bumble's efforts to address safety concerns on its platform. The article does not disclose any sources.
Bumble will be removing the ad from its widespread ad campaign, but it’s unclear how many will be deleting their accounts in a boycott of the brand.
Many questioned how Bumble makes its money off sex in light of the billboards and likened the dating app to a pimp or brothel.
Many women were shocked to see bright billboards advertising the popular dating app with the tagline ‘A vow of celibacy is not the answer.’
Fallacies
(80%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by quoting TikTok users who express their anger and frustration towards the Bumble ad campaign. This is not a logical fallacy in itself, but it can create an emotional response that may influence readers to form opinions without fully considering the facts. The author also makes an appeal to authority by quoting experts and studies about dating apps and their negative effects on users. However, this does not necessarily mean that the information provided is accurate or unbiased.
][TikTok user]" I am done dating. I'm just done. It's not worth it anymore.[//,
Bias
(10%)
The author expresses a clear bias against Bumble's advertising campaign by using language such as 'shocked', 'questioned', and 'many were calling the app out for encouraging casual sex or even rape culture'. She also quotes several individuals who are critical of the campaign and labels their opinions as fact. The author does not provide any counter-arguments or perspectives that challenge these criticisms, leading to a biased portrayal of the situation.
Another TikTok user said upon seeing the billboard.
Atmosphere at The Cut’s ‘How I Get It Done’ Presented By Bumble at The Premiere on January 21, 2024, in Park City, Utah. Bumble has removed its billboards after facing staunch backlash for its pro-sex...
Bumble will be removing the ad from its widespread ad campaign, but it’s unclear how many will be deleting their accounts in a boycott of the brand.
Many women were calling the app out for encouraging casual sex or even rape culture.
