What is a bagel note?
When you like someone's photo or prompt, you can add a short message to send with your like or flowers 🌸. That's your bagel note. It's your chance to show a little personality and tell them why you're interested.
Maybe you connected with their answer about travel, or loved their sense of humor. A bagel note helps you start the conversation in a more personal way.
What's not allowed
- Contact info or social media. Please don't ask for or share phone numbers, social media handles, or other links.
- Profanity or sexual language. Even if it's meant playfully, it can make others uncomfortable. For example, instead of "f*cking awesome pictures!!", try "Your photos are full of great energy!"
- Political topics. Keep your first message light and save the big debates for later.
- References to violence, self-harm, or suicide. These are serious topics that shouldn't be used casually.
- Harassment or discrimination. Threatening, bullying, or disrespectful language about someone's identity or background is not okay.
- Promotions or sales. CMB isn't a place for advertising, offering services, or recruiting.
What's encouraged
- Personal and specific. Mention something from their prompt or photo. ("I love that hiking trail too! What's your favorite spot?")
- Genuine and kind. A little warmth goes a long way.
- Curious. Ask a question that invites a real answer, not just yes or no.
What if my bagel note doesn't meet the guidelines?
Your first message is checked before it's sent, to help every conversation start on a good note. If it doesn't meet these guidelines, it won't be sent.
If a few of your messages are blocked, you won't be able to send new first messages for 24 hours. You can still send likes in the meantime. Once you've matched, your chat continues as normal.
Start with kindness, stay curious, and let your real self shine through.