How Bubble works
The full mechanic, in the order you meet it: the map, the zone, the Pop, the Drop, and what the server decides on your behalf.
The map, not a feed
Bubble opens on the world map. You can pan anywhere — global browsing is allowed on purpose — while what you can actually open is governed by where you are.
- Individual Bubbles appear as markers; dense places collapse into clusters.
- Hot areas show organic activity. Boosted Bubbles are marked separately and never blend into Hot.
- Activity areas need at least 3 Bubbles from at least 2 different owners before they are drawn at all.
Bubble Zone and Pop Radius
Two different distances, often confused, doing two different jobs.
- Bubble Zone is your reach: 2 km by default, 5 km with Bubble+.
- Pop Radius belongs to the Bubble: some moments open only when you physically enter it.
- Both are evaluated on the server for every attempt. A modified app, a forged location or a replayed request does not change the answer.
Popping a Bubble
A Pop is an authorisation, then a delivery — in that order, never the other way round.
- The server checks access, expiry, friendship, blocking and account state first.
- Only then is media released, through a short-lived, one-use signed link.
- Locked media is never prefetched, so a Bubble you cannot open is never quietly downloaded to your phone.
Dropping a moment
Capture Live in the moment, or share a Memory that says exactly what it is.
- Live comes from the camera or microphone and cannot be produced from a file.
- Gallery imports are labelled Memory in the map, the viewer, notifications and analytics.
- Captions support a moment; Bubble has no standalone text post.
People, on your terms
Social features exist, and every one of them has an off switch or a boundary.
- React to moments, send and accept friend requests, and receive Message Requests instead of unfiltered DMs.
- Block anyone; blocking is enforced across discovery, chat, notifications and storage — not just hidden in the UI.
- Report content or accounts from the place you found them, and control notifications, privacy and language from Settings.
Optional paid features
Coins and Bubble+ add convenience and reach. Neither is required to use Bubble.
- Coins: eligible Private Bubble access, Remote Pop, Boost, Super Bubble — cost shown before confirmation.
- Bubble+: a wider Bubble Zone, no third-party ads, Bubble Diary and the other benefits listed on the current paywall.
- Coins have no cash value, cannot be withdrawn and cannot be transferred directly to another person.
| Value | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bubble Zone (free) | 2 km |
| Bubble Zone (Bubble+) | 5 km |
| Activity-area privacy floor | 3 Bubbles from 2+ distinct owners |
| Minimum age | 18+ |
| Appeal window | 30 days |
| Deletion grace period | 30 days |
| Launch languages | 20 |
| Primary data region | EU / Frankfurt |
Access, expiry, friendship, blocking and every Coin movement are decided by the server. That is what makes the rules above claims Bubble can keep rather than settings in an app anyone could patch.