Facebook is to get its own dating service designed to build “meaningful, long-term relationships” rather than “just for hook-ups”.
The move was announced by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the firm’s annual F8 developers conference in San Jose, California.
He told his audience that the match-making feature would take privacy issues in mind and would launch “soon”.
“There are 200 million people on Facebook who list themselves as single,” said Mr Zuckerberg. “And if we are committed to building meaningful relationships, then this is perhaps the most meaningful of all.”
First look at Facebook Dating.
Notice the sample profile is 36 yrs old.
Notice that "this is gonna be for building real, long-term relationships" quote.
Zuck isn't chasing Tinder or Bumble (yet) – he's after the older demo on Match & OKCupid. Remember, 54% of FB users are 35+. pic.twitter.com/zs1lGiTjC5— Jack Appleby (@JuiceboxCA) May 1, 2018
Shares in the dating business Match Group fell after the announcement and closed more than 22% below their opening price.
The firm owns Tinder, a dating app that sources its profile information from Facebook. It is currently in the process of simultaneously attempting to sue and takeover rival app Bumble.
The company said in a statement: “People already use Facebook to meet new people, and we want to make that experience better. People will be able to create a dating profile that is separate from their Facebook profile — and potential matches will be recommended based on dating preferences, things in common, and mutual friends.”
Facebook’s dating service will be opt-in and Zuckerberg was keen to stress it had been built with privacy and security in mind from the start, with the company continuing to face worldwide scrutiny over the mass harvesting of personal data for use by Cambridge Analytica.