Dating app company Bumble has issued an apology for running an ad campaign that seemingly shamed women for not being sexually active and mocked people for choosing celibacy instead of dating.
Technology
Bumble apologizes for its anti-celibacy ad fumble
Dating app Bumble has issued an apology for running billboard ads that seemingly shamed women for not being sexually active and mocked celibacy.
After updating its app and brand design in April to try to attract new users who are “exhausted from the dating scene,” Bumble ran a series of billboard ads containing messages like “You know full well a vow of celibacy is not the answer,” and “Thou shalt not give up on dating and become a nun.” The company faced swift backlash across social media from users who condemned the ads for delegitimizing celibacy as a valid personal choice.
“We made a mistake,” the company said via an Instagram post on Monday. “Our ads referencing celibacy were an attempt to lean into a community frustrated by modern dating, and instead of bringing joy and humor, we unintentionally did the opposite.”
The company said it’s removing the ads and will be donating to the National Domestic Violence Hotline and other organizations that support women. The billboard spaces will also be offered to these organizations to display “an ad of their choice” for the remaining duration Bumble reserved them for.
Social media users accused the ad campaign of going against the founding principles of Bumble, which launched in 2014 with the aim of creating a more hospitable dating environment for women. Critics noted that the campaign is dismissive of people who choose celibacy, including Bumble’s asexual users and people who avoid sex due to trauma, and pointed out racist language differentials on ads depicting a Black woman.
Women have also started embracing celibacy as a means to protest rigid gender roles, sexism, and sexual violence, such as South Korea’s 4B feminist movement, which renounces sex with men, marriage, and having children.
This controversy follows an already rough period for Bumble. The company announced plans to lay off 350 employees back in February, and its share price has tumbled by roughly 45 percent since last July as young adults opt to make connections in person or via social media instead of through dating apps.
Regional
After Punjab, summer vacations announced in Sindh also
The summer vacation in Sindh schools will be from June 1 to July 31
Karachi: The notification has been issued announcing summer vacations in schools across Sindh.
According to the notification issued by Sindh Education Department, the summer vacation in Sindh schools will be from June 1 to July 31. The summer vacations will be as per the decision of the Steering Committee.
It is pertinent to note that the proposal of premature summer holidays in Sindh on the pattern of Punjab was under consideration, however, the Meteorological Department explained that there will be no heat wave in Karachi in the month of May.
Notably, the summer vacations in public and private schools across Punjab will start from June 1 and continue till August 14. Due to severe weather conditions, school timings have also been changed in Punjab.
As per the changed timings, schools will be operational from 7:30am to 11:30am from Monday to Thursday and Saturday while academic activities will continue in all schools from 7:30am to 11:00am on Friday.
Sports
Pakistani mountaineer Sarbaz climbs Mount Everest without oxygen
He is the first and only Pakistani to climb 11 peaks without oxygen
Pakistani mountaineer Sarbaz Ali Khan climbed the world's highest peak Mount Everest without oxygen.
Sarbaz Ali is the second Pakistani to climb Mount Everest without artificial oxygen, as Sajid Sadpara had previously accomplished this feat.
Sarbaz Ali has climbed 11 out of 14 peaks above 8,000 meters without oxygen support. He is the first and only Pakistani to climb 11 peaks without oxygen.
Pakistani climber has climbed a total of 13 peaks above 8,000 meters.
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