Facebook launches its dating site in the United States

"Facebook Dating", the dating site of the social network, made its debut Thursday in the United States with the promise of lasting unification in a few clicks of singles, a free service that could overshadow the competition. Facebook, at the heart of many controversies related to the leak of personal data of its users, says that this new feature has benefited from advanced security.

"Facebook Dating makes it easier to meet love through what you love, helping you build deep relationships through things you have in common, such as interests, events, and groups, according to a message posted by Nathan Sharp, a project manager, gives you a more authentic look at a person. "

In his announcement in May 2018, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of the world's first social network, had personally pointed out that this site was not intended to facilitate one-night meetings with no tomorrow, but to help people build relationships through the network. "Finding a romantic partner is very personal, which is why we designed Dating in such a way that it is safe," Nathan Sharp insists in his message.

Protect real encounters

Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal in March 2018, revealing the political exploitation of data of millions of Facebook users without their knowledge, the network struggles to get rid of the image of an unreliable social network, unable to protect its 2.4 billion users. And in late July, Facebook was fined $ 5 billion by the FTC, the US regulatory authority for communications, for failing to protect the personal data of its users.

To reassure, Nathan Sharp explained that security and privacy experts have been working on this project "to create protections from the beginning, including the ability to report and block anyone, prohibit people to send photos , links, payments or videos in messages, and providing easy access to security recommendations. "

Beyond securing virtual data, Facebook has also planned to protect people who decide to continue their meeting in real life. They will be able to share with a trusted person information about a scheduled meeting (location, time, etc.).

Facebook Dating will take its first steps by the beginning of 2020.