Zuck’s New Facebook Dating App Gets the Side-Eye From Twitter

Facebook’s new feature after the data scandal has people looking at the dating app with more than a little suspicion

Facebook unveiled its new dating app during its annual developers’ conference.

(Photo: AP)

Facebook F8, the social media giant’s annual developer conference, saw Mark Zuckerberg in ‘apology mode’ (but without an actual apology) following the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, after which a host of new and exciting features were announced.

In his address, Zuckerberg assured the audience that Facebook was taking adequate measures to ensure users’ data privacy, and no Cambridge Analytica-like situation would happen in the future.

He then unveiled Facebook’s new applications which were aimed at enhancing user experience. Among the new features, Facebook’s new ‘dating app’ caught the public’s eye the most.

The app, said Zuckerberg, was a tool to build “real long-term relationships and not just hookups.”

The online dating space already has established applications like Tinder and OKCupid.

Following Facebook’s announcement, shares of Match, Tinder and Match.com’s holding company, fell by 22%, its largest single-day fall ever. Match Group Inc’s parent organisation, IAC’s shares fell nearly by 18%, its biggest daily loss in 13 years.

Are You Serious, Zuck?

Twitter went into comic overdrive about Facebook having the temerity to build a dating app.

Facebook Is Like That Creepy Uncle...

Tech journalists too showed their funny side.

Trust Factor: Zero

And still more called out Facebook for what seemed like a gimmick to distract attention from the data scandal, without explaining how or why THIS (much more personal) data would be kept safe.