Bumble bans guns from profile photos in wake of Parkland shooting

Bumble is taking a firm anti-gun stance. The dating app known for its women-first philosophy has banned guns as well as dangerous weapons like knives from appearing in its users' profile photos.

The company's CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd announced the change on Monday for its nearly 30 million users. It comes in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed.

To enforce the new policy, Bumble has instructed a team of 5,000 contractors to proactively remove photos with guns from users' profiles. Bumble accounts will not be banned, just the use of certain photos.

However, the policy does not apply for people in the military or law enforcement if they are holding firearms while in uniform. Users also can petition for their photos to be reinstated if that is the case, which could also apply for competitive sports shooters. Bumble will not censor photos that appear from Bumble users' Instagram feeds.

“We just want to create a community where people feel at ease, where they do not feel threatened, and we just don’t see guns fitting into that equation," Herd told the New York Times.

This decision isn't the first time Bumble has taken a stance in what types of photos are allowed on its network. In October 2016, Bumble banned mirror selfies along with photos in underwear, any bikini, or swimwear photos, and photos of just children.

"We’re over online spaces having different rules than other social spaces," the company wrote in a blog post at the time. "The rules that apply in real life interactions will apply to Bumble." 

Bumble also banned an account connected to conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec back in January.

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“Compared to what's going on with Facebook and Twitter, we take a very proactive approach,” Herd told the Times. “If I could police every other social platform in the world, I would.”

But of course, banning guns is taking a controversial stance in a policy issue. Some politicians and survivors of the Parkland shooting have argued that gun control shouldn't be a political issue. And yet, people, such as those in the National Rifle Association, are are strict defenders of the Second Amendment that gives individuals the right to a gun.

Bumble may take further action against guns. Herd told the Times her company intends to filter out mentions of guns in written content on the app.

Bumble is also donating $100,000 toward March For Our Lives, the nationwide protest against gun violence on March 24.

Bumble is saying no to guns. Your move, Tinder.