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Social Media News: Facebook Introduces Relationship 'Ask' Button

Written by Raquel Royers | May 23, 2014

Have you seen the new “ask" button that is now on Facebook? Facebook recently rolled out a new feature where you can ask someone what their relationship status is if they don’t have it listed. Did social media stalking just jump to new extremes? I think so!

 

Is this the new wave of online dating? Watch out Tinder and Match.com—Facebook is stepping into your territory. Maybe.

 

Putting it to the test

 

We couldn’t actually believe that this was true so a fellow co-worker and I tried it out. She sent me a request asking about my relationship status and what do you know I instantly got a notification—it’s real! However, you have to send a message along with the request so that it makes it a little more personal and gives the person an idea of why you are asking. This is your chance to use the best pickup line you got. Ha-ha

 

Here’s the twist

 

What’s even more interesting about this is that once you do answer and tell someone what your relationship status is Facebook saves that information and it is then used for marketing purposes. So, don’t be surprised if you answer “single” and then start seeing more advertisements directed to you in your newsfeed for dating sites and bars near you!

 

My opinion

 

Personally, I think it’s a very unattached way of being able to ask someone what his or her relationship status is. It’s the easy way out and kind of invasive. I would rather receive a message through Facebook messenger asking me if I am single or not—which is still not the right way to do it guys! I think this button will be a flop and won’t really be used to the extent Facebook is hoping for. Social media is not the time nor the place to fall in love.

 

Check out this article from Mashable that goes into a little more detail and gives screenshots of the process.

 

Facebook Introduces New Way to Flirt With Relationship 'Ask' Button

 

Posted by Samantha Murphy Kelly, Mashable

 

If you've been eyeing someone on Facebook whose profile doesn't list a relationship status, the company is making it easier (or possibly more awkward) to find out if he or she's single.

Facebook has rolled out a new "ask" feature for those profile pages that don't list relationship statuses. The owner of the page doesn't see the button — only the person who is checking out the page.

By clicking "ask," you must send the user a message related to the status (such as "want to grab a drink sometime?"), as well as a request to list a status as single, engaged, married or in a civil union. Note: users must be friends with the person in order for the "ask" button to appear.

 

Photo Source: Mashable

 

The owner of the Facebook page then receives a request to list select a status that only the sender can see. This means your status can remain private but visible to only those who "ask" for that information, if you so wish to divulge it.

 


It's also possible to update your entire network with this information too, but Facebook is probably guessing — correctly — that you'd simply list your status already if you wanted everyone to know.

The feature introduces a new way to use Facebook as a way to find dates. With the continuing success of online dating sites, and Facebook's massive u

ser base, the only surprise here is that the feature wasn't introduced sooner.

What do you think about Facebook’s new ask button. Is it necessary, awkward, just plain wrong to have this on social media? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!

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