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This week is Facebook’s annual F8 developer’s conference where the company announces innovations for the coming year.
While most of the announcements from Facebook in the past months have been related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal and privacy issues, this conference introduces tech for Facebook’s future.
During the F8 keynote address Mark Zuckerberg revealed new tools such as Facebook Dating, virtual reality and augmented reality innovations, an updated Messenger app, instant translations and much more.
Facebook Dating
Post-Cambridge Analytica, Mark Zuckerberg says he wants to get back to connecting people on Facebook and Facebook Dating may be the first step in that plan.
Dating will be a section of Facebook, instead of a separate app, where people can register a second profile. Their Dating profile will have their photo, first name only, and limited information about them.
Dating won’t try to connect you with your Facebook friends. In fact, your Facebook friends won’t even know you have a Dating profile, unless you tell them.
Instead, you can link your Dating profile to Events and Facebook Groups, then Dating will try to find your perfect match. It will look for people with similar interests and likes (or Likes?) to match you with.
Find someone you like on Dating? Users will be able to send messages to each other with words only, no photos allowed, to protect privacy.
Zuckerberg said at F8 that Facebook intends for Dating to “create long-term relationships, not hook-ups.”
Dating is optional. If you are not interested in Dating, don’t fill out a Dating profile. But if you are, then you’ll be able fill out a Dating profile and start connecting with others.
Not everyone on Twitter greeted the news of Facebook Dating with joy:
Speaking in my professional capacity as a dystopian science fiction writer, it is hard to imagine a more foolish proposition than putting Mark Zuckerberg in charge of my romantic life.
— Cory Doctorow (@doctorow) May 1, 2018
Virtual Reality — Oculus Go
Facebook also announced the launch of Oculus Go, a virtual reality headset that’s now for sale on Amazon for $199.
This video gives a sneak preview of Oculus Go:
What can you do with Oculus Go? You can experience virtual reality with different Oculus services.
For example, you can stream Netflix and Hulu with Oculus TV. You can watch sporting events, comedy shows and concerts with Oculus Venues. You can get together with friends and play virtual games in Oculus Rooms.
Check out => Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality – What’s the Difference?
Facebook Messenger
Facebook is getting serious about augmented reality too and wants to turn your cell phone camera into an augmented reality camera using Messenger.
With the updated Messenger app, users will be able to connect with businesses and see augmented reality displays on their screen. Businesses can use augmented reality in Facebook Messenger to demonstrate products and help people see how items would look in their homes or how cosmetics or apparel will look on customers making a purchase.
Messenger will also be updated to add instant translations so people can chat in different languages in real time. Translations will initially only be available between English and Spanish but more languages will be added later.
Other Augmented Reality News
Facebook is also introducing augmented reality features into Instagram and is working with partners including Kylie Jenner, NBA, Ariana Grande, Vogue and BuzzFeed to use the tech.
Facebook demonstrated its augmented reality powers with badges for f8 attendees, showing a 3D image of the conference floor plan:
My first AR conference badge. #F8 badge using camera in @facebook app. @CNET #f82018 #AugmentedReality pic.twitter.com/NIRuofgUon
— Mariel Myers (@producermariel) May 1, 2018
Other F8 Announcements
Facebook will be linking Instagram with third party apps so you can add a video directly from your GoPro camera to your Instagram account. You’ll also be able to add a Spotify playlist to an Instagram post.
To add to privacy, Facebook will let users clear their browsing history.
Instagram and WhatsApp will launch group video chats, joining Messenger which already has this tool.
Your Thoughts
Are you excited about Facebook’s F8 announcements? Do you think Facebook Dating will be successful in matching couples? Do you think Facebook Dating is a useful place to find true love?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
*Heart image (edited) courtesy of Tatiana T via Flickr and Creative Commons
Wow. Things are getting techie.
I’m not so sure Facebook knows what they are doing, or the impact that these changes might have on others.
I’m speechless.
What happened to the good old days and simpler times? Geez.
Hi Lorraine, You’re right, these are big changes from Facebook. They do need to make changes after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, but time will tell whether these are the changes that need to be made at this critical point in their business.
Dating a year ago might have been more successful, but right after these privacy issues have been revealed, people might be reluctant to entrust their romantic prospects with Facebook. We shall see whether these changes go boom or bust!
Hello
Carolyn,
Glad to read your content as always. Yes, Carolyn I am excited about Facebook’s F8 announcements and the innovations for the coming year. Here, happy to know about Facebook new tools and it will surely make Facebook more better.
You have well explained about these tools. I always come to your blog and always learn something new, so keep writing and spread informative information with your blog post to people.
Have a nice day.
Praveen verma
Hi Praveen, I’m glad you’re excited about these announcements. The augmented reality and virtual reality advancements really are very interesting. The instant language translation could be extremely useful as well.
I hope you enjoy these new Facebook features, Praveen!
Not sure Facebook knows what they are doing, or the impact that these changes might have on others.
Hi Heather, Good point. Facebook has broken a lot of new ground in social media, some for good and some for bad. Will users have enough confidence in Facebook to entrust their romantic fortunes to Dating? It will be very interesting to see whether this service catches on or if it dies a quick death similar to the Facebook phone.
This feature is going to be so cool, they have not launch it yet but hope so they will launch it in the upcoming months!
So excited for this feature! 😀
Hi Zain, Yes, this feature is a surprise and I think people are very curious about whether it will be a hit or not. (I’m thinking you’re referring to the Facebook Dating announcement.) Dating certainly has potential, but the timing of the introduction, right after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, may make the launch more challenging.