But after years of privacy missteps by the social network, will people trust it with their love lives? For a company that's also developing its own digital currency and dabbling in e-commerce, love is another step toward reaching into all aspects of human existence.
Although many features resemble what other matchmaking services offer, Facebook's version promises to be different, just as Tinder brought swiping and Bumble brought female-first messaging. Your Facebook Dating profile will be separate from your main one, but it will let you tap your network of friends to identify "secret crushes. Facebook Dating, a mobile-only service that's free to use and free of ads, can still help Facebook make money if it keeps people glued to its other services longer.
Tell that to Seth Carter, 32, an engineer from Terre Haute, Indiana, who tried a host of dating apps ranging from Match to Bumble, Tinder and Christian Mingle prior to his current relationship. But he worries that Facebook's stated commitment to privacy would ultimately buckle under pressure to make money off the service. Facebook says it won't be doing any of that. But users like Carter can hardly be blamed for their apprehension, given the company's multiple stumbles over protecting people's private information.
It's also under scrutiny for allowing for the spread of election-related misinformation and discrimination in U. The market is crowded. From old school sites like eHarmony to Hinge or The League, a members-only service promising to bring together folks with "ambition and a drive to succeed," there are also apps focused on farmers, religious groups, seniors, the LGBT community and so on.
When he announced the feature last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook Dating is "not just for hookups" but to build "meaningful, long-term relationships. With Facebook, you start by creating a dating profile distinct from your Facebook profile. It's easy to bring over details such as your school and job β but you're free to embellish or hide any of that just for Facebook Dating.
