Can Facebook tackle your love life?
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.
AFP
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.
That's if users can get over concerns about privacy.
"A feature on Facebook that people don't trust isn't going to be successful," said Rob Sherman, the company's deputy chief privacy officer. "We built in privacy from the ground up."
Reuters
"Facebook is here to make money and I get that," he said. But he worries that Facebook's stated commitment to privacy would ultimately buckle under pressure to make money off the service. "That likely means they're going to sell my dating preferences, which means even more intrusions into my life."
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. Facebook was fined a record $5 billion this summer by the Federal Trade Commission over privacy violations. It's also under scrutiny for allowing for the spread of election-related misinformation and discrimination in US housing ads.
AFP
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'. That appeared to be a direct swipe at Tinder, a service best known for hooking people up with people they find attractive by showing their photo, age and first name.
Agencies
You have to be at least 18, rather than 13 with the main Facebook service. The service isn't limited to those who've listed themselves as 'single'.
Facebook Dating shows your age, but hides your last name. When you see a suggested match, you 'like' someone by tapping a heart icon, or tap 'X' to dislike. You can't search for mates by interests or other keywords, the way you can with Match. You're limited to what Facebook suggests. As with Tinder, you have to decide whether or not you like someone before seeing the next match.
AFP
Facebook won't let lonely hearts — or creeps — send photos or website links, which could help cut down on unsolicited photos. As a safety measure, you can also share your location with friends while you're on a date.
To help you meet offline and share interests, the service will suggest matches based on your existing Facebook groups and events. If you and a match are both going to a concert, you can make plans to meet up there. (These options require you to intentionally activate them.)
Reuters
But based on Facebook's history with users' private information, there's certainly a possibility that it won't, so prepare to be embarrassed.
AP
