Technology

Posted on June 14, 2018 by staff

Dating app Badoo replaces ‘shallow swiping’ with live stream

Technology

Global dating app Badoo has revealed it will temporarily remove its ‘encounters’ (swiping) feature and introduce live streaming to encourage more genuine connections.

The company stressed that Badoo Live is “100 per cent safe” and that its software will be continuously scanning streams to immediately remove any inappropriate content.

The decision followed a survey of 5,000 people which found that 74 per cent of Brits aged 18-30 are looking for ‘real life’ interactions – not just empty messaging or a self-esteem boost.

The majority (68 per cent) of those surveyed said they dislike swiping on photos, believing it to be a shallow way of connecting with people.

The study also found that 83 per cent would feel more comfortable meeting someone face-to-face after watching a live stream.

“We are testing the removal of our ‘encounters’ feature, as our research shows that people now value real life interactions and want to see more of the person behind the profile picture,” said CEO Andrey Andreev.

“Badoo Live, launching soon, will give our users the chance to let their true personalities shine through; interact in real time and ultimately, form more genuine connections.”

Currently still in test phase, Badoo Live has already taken a number of countries by storm, with one user live streaming a friend’s wedding day for a record 13 hours and 19 minutes.

Badoo claims to have 380 million users worldwide.