Publications
Partners
Facebook will be launching a brand new dating app, reports The Guardian. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, just announced the news at an annual developer conference and tongues are wagging.
If you’re worried this will just be another way for icky strangers to try and get into your pants, Zuckerberg said the new dating feature aims to help build “real long-term relationships – not just hookups”.
Mmmm, but how?
“We want Facebook to be somewhere where you can start meaningful relationships. We’ve designed this with privacy and safety in mind from the beginning,” said Zuckerberg.
READ MORE: 4 ways to make your next blind date a lot less awkward
It has, of course, attracted the most attention from the listening crowd even though the bulk of the short speech was about the company’s privacy scandal.
Facebook is taking on Tinder with new dating features. pic.twitter.com/sphzaZ8p6N
— The Verge (@verge) May 1, 2018
The chief product officer, Chris Cox, said that the new dating feature would be safe and an opt-in option for users and that the company has taken advantage of this unique platform and data base.
I suppose having one more app out there to compete with the likes of Bumble, OKCupid and Tinder couldn’t hurt, especially if Facebook says it will be safe.
But then on the other hand, do we really need it? Aren’t there enough dating apps out there? And also how exactly is Facebook going to make sure that these relationships are 'meaningful' and that things don't lead to just hookups?
READ MORE: Fat girls shouldn’t be allowed on Tinder, right?
As someone who spent about two years on dating apps and actually found her partner on one, I doubt very much Facebook will be able to do anything about hookup culture... but there could probably be quite a few meaningful relationships coming out of this anyway. I mean I know of people who've started dating because they met on Facebook, so the next logical step seems to be to make a dating app specifically for that purpose.
READ MORE: Thinking about giving up on online dating? These love stories might change your mind
Plus, this is a really smart way to detract from the whole privacy scandal thing.
I was amused by the news, so I went to see what the people on Twitter were saying and I wasn’t disappointed.
Facebook “introduces” dating like it hasn’t been the conduit for emotional affairs between ex-high school classmates hitting midlife crisis age since people who weren’t in college could enroll
— audible gasp (@morninggloria) May 1, 2018
Facebook: We don't use your data to do anything creepy or invasive.
— Nikhil Sonnad (@nkl) May 1, 2018
Also Facebook: We are launching a dating site where you will be algorithmically matched with your statistically perfect partner using our model of your interests and psychological type.
Facebook is launching an online dating feature. Which is different from their current online dating feature of showing you who your ex is dating.
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) May 2, 2018
Like regular Facebook, Facebook-Dating will be fun up until your parents show up on it. https://t.co/aLPybPvTF7
— Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) May 1, 2018
Facebook is starting a dating service? Awesome, I needed one more place to be constantly rejected.
— Jess (@a_hoyhoy) May 1, 2018
Only time will tell if the Facebook dating app will be a success, but it doesn't mean that there won't be shade thrown in the meantime. This is a statement from Mandy Ginsberg, CEO of Match.com.
Wow, the Match and IAC responses to Facebook’s dating product. Via @GerritD https://t.co/ivuWILLOsF pic.twitter.com/PYBuYQQi6h
— Sarah Frier (@sarahfrier) May 1, 2018
Will you be using the new Facebook dating app once it launches? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter.
Sign up to W24’s newsletters so you don't miss out on any of our hot stories and giveaways.
