Tinder parent company Match Group says it isn’t worried about Facebook’s looming debut in the online dating game.
In an earnings call Wednesday morning following a strong showing by the company where it beat analyst estimates, CEO Mandy Ginsberg said that users won’t want Mark Zuckerberg’s social network to be involved in their romantic relationships.
“I really don’t think people are going to be comfortable mixing their dating lives with Facebook,” Ginsberg said.
“Research says that the vast majority of singles would not want to use Facebook for dating primarily due to concerns with data and personal privacy,” she continued. “More importantly, they don’t want to be contacted by strangers on a social network meant for connections with friends and family.”
Match Group’s stock is down more than 22 percent since last week’s announcement at Facebook’s F8 conference that it would be entering the dating arena.
“This is going to be for building real, long-term relationships — not just for hookups,” Zuckerberg told the assembled crowd last week, taking a swipe at Tinder’s reputation for facilitating quick flings.
He added that Facebook designed the new feature “with privacy and safety in mind,” adding that users’ friends on the social network won’t see that they’re using it.
Ginsberg, however said she thinks Facebook will ultimately help Match Group — whose portfolio also includes OkCupid and PlentyOfFish — rather than hurt it, by bringing in customers who have been hesitant to date online.
“They may be able to help break some of the stigma and further expand the category,” Ginsberg said. “Given our large product portfolio we think that we could benefit from this.”
Match Group ended the day up 1.5 percent, at $36.85.


