Facebook is introducing its own dating app – is this the end of Grindr?
SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 01: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during the F8 Facebook Developers conference on May 1, 2018 in San Jose, California. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg deliverd the opening keynote to the FB Developer conference that runs through May 2. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Tuesday that the social networking giant is launching its very own dating app.
The app is part of a few updates and novelties coming our way that were announced during F8, the company’s annual developers conference in San Jose, California.
Zuckerberg wants to make one thing clear: he has Facebook’s users’ best interests in mind. Especially when it comes to L.O.V.E.
“There are 200 million people on Facebook who list themselves as single,” the CEO said.
“And if we are committed to building meaningful relationships, then this is perhaps the most meaningful of all.”
The CEO said countless couples have met on Facebook had thanked him over the years.
He said: ““These are some of the moments that I’m really proud of what we’re doing. I know that we’re making a positive difference in people’s lives.”
The app, an opt-in feature, would match single users with strangers, and not Facebook friends. No shenanigans, though. Zuckerberg said the feature would focus on “long-term relationships” and not hook-ups.
The new app, which should be rolled out “soon,” will take into account privacy issues. “We have designed this with privacy and safety in mind from the beginning,” he assured.
Chris Cox, Facebook’s chief product officer, presented a dummy user profile. He explained the dating profile would be separate from users’ everyday profiles, and that personal information would only be visible to other users on the app.
Hook-up apps (Leon Neal/Getty)
Other dating apps were quick to react to the news.
Match Group – dating giant Tinder’s parent company – saw shares tumble after the announcement. It suffered a 22 percent drop on Tuesday – the lowest single-day drop in their history, according to Bloomberg.
CEO Mandy Ginsberg said that Match is “surprised at the timing given the amount of personal and sensitive data that comes with this territory.”
However, Ginsberg welcomed the challenge, saying that the company was “flattered” that Facebook is coming into our space” and “Facebook’s entry will only be invigorating to all of us.”
A spokesperson for rival app Bumble said in a statement: “Perhaps Bumble and Facebook can join forces to make the connecting space even more safe and empowering.”
PinkNews reached out to gay dating app Grindr, but did not hear back at time of publication.
Grindr (Leon Neal/Getty)
