Breathe
By Samantha Garcia
Long before I worked at Bumble, I met my now-husband on the app. I must confess that, 5 years ago, I still had some doubts about how it would work, the type of people I would meet, etc. Bumble was not the first dating app I was on, but it was the one I felt most comfortable and confident on. And I understood why that was the case from the first interview during my recruitment process. I had found a company that would not only allow me to have growth, but that shared my values and got "hands on" with uncomfortable industry issues but necessary to address to really create safe spaces (online and offline) for women.
One such issue is cyberbullying. While harassment has existed for years, the digital world has exponentiated its reach, speed and anonymity. As we learned this year from a study presented by INEGI, women are more often the targets of online harassment than men (9.8 million women vs. 7.6 million men). Beyond the incidence data, at Bumble we wanted to know the effects of cyberbullying in people's lives, how much is known about the different types of it and if people really consider it a serious problem or feel oblivious to these situations.
Four out of 10 people in Mexico have suffered digital harassment or know someone who has experienced this type of harassment. Four. We know this thanks to a survey commissioned by Bumble to Ipsos[1]. This study revealed that cyberbullying in some of its most common forms (bodyshaming , sexual harassment and online insults, doxing, revenge porn and cyberflashing) is perceived as a serious problem by a significant number of respondents in Mexico.
In addition, it is perceived as a problem that primarily affects women (according to 98% of respondents) and members of the LGBTQIA+ community (75%).
This study also revealed that cyberbullying has a huge impact on those who experience it: 8 out of 10 people suffer from anxiety or stress after experiencing such a situation, and just over half abandon or substantially modify their digital life, either because they stop using their social networks or other applications, and there are even those who permanently suspend any contact with friends and family.
The figures, although overwhelming, do not always make us aware that behind each one of them there is a person with a life story. For that person, there was not 40% of digital harassment, there was 100% and this, for many, meant anguish and vulnerability. The cases in the media about this type of violence do not cease and this is a clear call for all parties: society, industry, government, to work together to create a kinder and more empathetic digital world.
For years, Bumble's leadership team has focused on concrete actions to improve the digital space. To name a couple of examples, Bumble works with the nonprofit Partnership on A.I. (PAI), a coalition committed to the responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies. Beyond this, the company has a history of fighting misogyny, harassment and online toxicity. It has implemented safety features in the Bumble app itself, such as Private Detector, a tool that helps protect our community from unwanted lewd images.
At the same time, there are alliances with organizations such as Bloom, which supports women who have experienced sexual abuse, and has helped to push for legislation against cyberflashing in the Congresses of several U.S. states and in the United Kingdom.
But we are aware that a single company alone will not bring about real and permanent change. It requires collaboration between organizations, technology platforms and users to achieve a safe and inclusive environment, where we can all fully enjoy the benefits of the Internet. We all have a role to play in making the digital world, and the real world, more friendly. Being aware of our behaviors and being more empathetic is a good start that is in our hands.
*He joined Bumble in 2021 leading the LATAM marketing team. Now, as a result of her leadership, she heads up marketing management for North and Latin America. She met her partner of 5 years at Bumble and they are expecting their first baby.
[1] The research was commissioned by Bumble to Ipsos, which surveyed 300 social network users in Mexico. Interviews were conducted online with men and women between the ages of 18 and 55. Margin of error +5.66 points per 95% confidence level in the country. The survey was conducted between June 7 and 16, 2023.
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