Facebook has announced it is joining the dating game, launching an app to match users with potential partners.
"This is going to be for building real, long-term relationships - not just hook-ups," Mark Zuckerberg said during the keynote address at Facebook's annual F8 developer conference Tuesday.
The feature will allow users to build a dating profile, which won't be visible to their friends. They'll then be matched with other people they aren't already friends with.
"We have designed this with privacy and safety in mind from the beginning," Mr Zuckerberg says.
"Your friends aren't going to see your profile, and you're only going to be suggested to people who are not your friends."
Full-page photos will take up the screen, in a similar format to existing dating sites like Tinder and Bumble. Each profile will have an 'interested' or 'pass' option underneath.
However, rather than just using your location to pick potential matches, Facebook will also base your dating suggestions on interests, groups and events that you're part of on the social media site.
It will be hosted within the Facebook app itself, but any conversations with matches will stay separate to Facebook Messenger conversations.
Those who have listed themselves as 'dating' or 'in a relationship' on Facebook will not have access to the dating feature. It's an opt-in feature - so you don't have to use it if you don't want to.
A release date will be announced later this year.
Newshub.
