TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has recently found itself in hot water as its internal matchmaking service, known as "Meet Cute," faces backlash from employees. The platform, which allows TikTok staff to introduce colleagues to their friends and family members, has sparked controversy and raised questions about personal boundaries within the workplace.
Meet Cute is hosted on the same workplace tool used by thousands of TikTok employees worldwide for various work-related tasks, including document hosting and video conferencing. However, it has an additional feature that allows employees to explore potential romantic connections within their workplace.
What entails in Meet Cute
On Meet Cute, employees can post profiles of their family members, friends, or acquaintances, providing information typically found on dating apps, such as height and weight. Colleagues can browse these profiles, leave comments, and even rate the individuals featured on the platform. Notably, the service comes with a disclaimer that the company will not mediate any disputes that may arise from these interactions.
While the service is primarily used by employees based in China, it was discovered that employees from other countries also gained access to Meet Cute due to a technical glitch. ByteDance clarified that Meet Cute was initially designed as an optional offering for mainland China employees.
ByteDance is not the only tech company in China to delve into employee matchmaking services. Tech giants like Alibaba, Meituan, and Huawei have similar dating forums or matchmaking services for their workforce. However, TikTok's global popularity and its parent company's matchmaking initiatives have garnered more attention and scrutiny.
As reported by The Guardian, several TikTok employees who spoke with Forbes expressed discomfort with the matchmaking service, feeling that it encroached on personal boundaries. Balancing employee well-being and fostering a sense of community can be challenging for companies, especially in the tech industry, where the lines between personal and professional life often blur.
As the controversy surrounding Meet Cute continues to grow, it remains to be seen how ByteDance and TikTok will address the concerns raised by their employees and whether any changes will be implemented in response to the backlash.
Both ByteDance and TikTok have been contacted for comment regarding the internal matchmaking service and the ongoing controversy, shedding light on the evolving dynamics of workplace culture and privacy concerns within the tech industry.
