The Emergence of the Dating App: A Look at Its Origins
In the world of dating apps, Whitney Wolfe Herd made a significant impact when she left Tinder and founded Bumble, a platform where women take the first step. This groundbreaking move was followed by a lawsuit against Tinder, making headlines in 2014.
The film "Swiped", now available on Disney+, centers around Whitney's post-Tinder journey. Although Whitney did not participate in the making of the film due to a confidentiality agreement, British actress Lily James portrays her role with inspiration drawn from Whitney's work with Bumble.
In the film, Whitney sneaks into a party to promote her app and meets Sean, who offers her a job in his startup. However, the film's portrayal of Whitney's success story is filled with Hollywood clichés, which some viewers argue damages its credibility.
Despite this, "Swiped" is a rare Hollywood film with a woman at the centre, following the success stories of tech entrepreneurs like "The Social Network" and "Steve Jobs". The film has a predominantly female team in various departments and as producers, as revealed by Lily James.
"Swiped" is based solely on extensive media coverage from that time, as Whitney did not participate in the making of the film due to her confidentiality agreement. The film's director, Rachel Lee Goldenberg, is relatively unknown in the industry.
Whitney's journey with Bumble was not without challenges. She experienced open sexism in the tech industry, including bullying and abuse of power, both in the app and at her workplace. Despite these obstacles, Whitney was supported by Russian investor Andrey Andreev in founding Bumble.
Today, approximately 7.5 million people in Germany use dating apps like Tinder or Bumble, reflecting the impact these platforms have on modern dating. Bumble, with its unique feature of women making the first move, continues to make waves in the dating app industry.
While "Swiped" may not accurately portray Whitney's story, it serves as an entertaining and amusing portrayal of her post-Tinder success story. For those interested in the world of tech entrepreneurship and dating apps, "Swiped" is a must-watch.
