When it comes to knowing your likes and dislikes, who (or what) would you say knows you best? Is it your best friend? Could it be a family member? Is it your partner? Or, is it Facebook? That’s right, Facebook already knows a lot about you, so could it also find you a future partner? It’s certainly a possibility. Facebook announced that it would be launching a dating app, but is that a good idea? I mean, you can link your Facebook account to Tinder (and other apps) already, so does that mean that they’re going to abandon this connection?
Bumble has already suggested that they’d be open to partnering with Facebook. Tinder, on the other hand, isn’t worried about what this is going to do and they’re on board with Facebook creating their own app. Here’s the big question that we have to ask ourselves. Can Facebook offer anything that Tinder or Bumble can’t? I think the answer is yes, but not for the reason that you’re thinking. Facebook has a ton of information on its users, so matching someone up might be really easy. But is it ethical?
I used a few dating apps, and when you’re looking for substance, you have to pick one like OkCupid. There are a ton of questions that you have to answer. Even when you think you’ve answered them all, there are still hundreds more to answer. Why? Well, they want to get to know you, and the only way to do that is through a series of questions. Facebook already has a lot of that data of yours. How they’ve obtained it might be a bit sketchy, but the fact is they have the information. Based on this, could Facebook become a viable dating app?
I think that they could. I’m not saying that I would like the app, or support it, but, in theory, they could. Going back to the OkCupid example for a moment. How would it be any different in terms of data? On Facebook, you’re not necessarily putting yourself out there for a date, but at least you wouldn’t be putting on any airs. What do I mean? Well, we all tend to embellish who we are and what we’re looking for when it comes to a dating app. So perhaps what we present on Facebook is more like our true selves?
That said, psychological scientists argue that there is no compelling evidence that algorithms work any better at fostering romantic outcomes than other methods. This is partly because those algorithms are based around factors long thought to be essential, that may just be complementary — like a mutual obsession with pottery classes. And there is very limited scientific proof that matching personalities create successful relationships. Which means, from a scientific perspective, Facebook isn’t going to be any better at matching you with your future partner.
While I agree with that in theory, I think that they have an upper hand when it comes to obtaining that data, and therefore could use that information to make it easier to find someone. Easy doesn’t always mean better. Whether or not they could be successful at it is another matter. I think that people will try anything to find their future spouse, and I can’t say that I blame them. What I wouldn’t suggest is selling your soul to the devil to find it. Or in this case, selling your privacy, literally.