After launching in 19 other countries, Facebook Dating, the social networking giant’s dating service, is now live in the US for users aged 18 and above. Facebook Dating profile will also allow users to integrate their Instagram posts directly into their profile along with the ability to add their Instagram followers into their Secret Crush lists, the official blog explains. The Dating profile works separately from the main Facebook profile and the activities of the Dating profile are not shared on the main profile. People are suggested based on preferences, interests, and other engagements on Facebook. Users can comment directly on a profile or tap on the Like button to let them know.
In the wake of this historic action, Facebook’s brand-new dating product is today launching to all in the U.S., promising to leverage the company’s deep insight into people’s personal data to deliver better matches than rival dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Match and others.
With its U.S. arrival, Facebook Dating will now also allow users to integrate their Instagram posts in their dating profile and add their Instagram followers to their “Secret Crush” list, in addition to Facebook friends.
By year-end, Facebook Dating users will be able to select which Facebook or Instagram Stories they want to add to their dating profile.
As others have noted on Facebook, apart from all the bonkers implications of getting more intimate with Facebook, what’s newsworthy about this announcement is the new ability for users to combine their Facebook and Instagram files in Facebook Dating. That’s the first time Facebook has munged the two platforms so closely together in pursuit of a product goal.
Matches between users who opt in to Facebook Dating will be suggested by the algorithm based on users’ preferences, interests, and activity within Facebook and Instagram.
“Barely more than a month has passed since the U.S. Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook a record $5 billion over its privacy lapses, and imposed a modified corporate structure to hold the company more accountable for its decisions over user privacy,” writes Sarah Perez at TechCrunch.
It’s difficult to imagine a company less qualified to keep your “secret crush” list secret.
Remember, before you use this thing? It’s owned by Facebook. If you use it, so’s your most intimate imaginable personal data.
As a business move though it’s a no brainier, hinge may just become rather unhinged.
Source Boing Boing