Facebook is adding dating profiles and features to its platform, looking for another way to connect people and turn the page over concerns about data security.
At Facebook’s F8 developer conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the concept. He said it will be optional, and opt-in only. Friends won’t be able to see each others’ dating profiles and users will only be matched with people they aren’t already friends with.
After users input their interests, Facebook will suggest events to attend. Users can then check out the event and find others using the dating service and connect with them via chat.
Relationships have always been part of Facebook, dating back to the infamous “relationship status” feature. Zuckerberg said that Facebook aims to help people make meaningful connections, and what’s a more meaningful connection than love, he argues.
“This is going to be for building real long-term relationships, not hookups,” Zuckerberg said.
The move into dating comes as Facebook is still reeling from a loss of trust following the Cambridge Analytica data breach scandal. It will be interesting to see if users trust Facebook enough to fork over more personal information and conduct their dating activities on the platform.
Dating company Match Group, which owns several services like Tinder and OKCupid, and its parent company IAC both saw its stocks sink on news of the features.
Match Group, IAC shares plunge after Facebook's Zuckerberg says Facebook will add dating & relationship features https://t.co/HATIgnXepz pic.twitter.com/uPkv9ycRiv
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) May 1, 2018
The new dating features were part of a handful of new announcements from Zuckerberg. The Facebook chief executive shared that the $199 standalone Oculus Go virtual reality headset is shipping today. Zuckerberg also unveiled a new privacy function the company is working on to let users manage and clear their browsing histories on the social network.
Several new features on Facebook’s various apps and platforms include video chats and calls on Instagram and Whats App and Watch Party on Facebook, where friends can gather to watch videos online and comment on them.
