Why does Facebook want you to date?
The social network is playing cupid.
Facebook helps connect people, but now it’s on a new mission to get people to fall in love. Facebook users in the US — it will be available in Europe next year — can create a dating profile and curate a list of secret crushes from among your friends.
The dating industry is massive β€” estimates say that it will be worth $12 billion a year by 2020 β€” but Facebook has said its feature will be free. So, why is the social network getting into the business of love? Could it be after even more data about us?
In this episode we speak to The Atlantic’s Kaitlyn Tiffany, who was at the official Facebook Dating launch party in New York. She talks about how it works and whether it could be a success. We also speak to developer Ben Berman, who’s created a game called Monster Match to show exactly how dating app algorithms work.
Presenter: Tina Daheley
Producers: Alicia Burrell, Harriet Noble and Lucy Hancock
Mixed by Nicolas Raufast
Editor: John Shields
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The darker side of apps we all have on our phones
How the apps we all use can have far-reaching consequences for some users.
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Beyond Today
One big question about one big story from the news - and beyond - every weekday.
