BuzzFeed Launches 'Cute Or Not' App For Pet Pics

BuzzFeed, the site dedicated to gifs, "which ____ are you?" quizzes, and other viral content, has released a new app that has one focus: yep, you guessed, cute pet pictures. Essentially nothing more than Tinder for pets, the "Cute or Not" app is not about showing the articles and other content available on the full site, but rather has users swiping on animal photos to rate them; towards the right for cute, and left for not cute. It aims to be simple fun, and it does just that.

BuzzFeed's vice president of product, Chris Johanesen, says they just set out to create something fun, and light on interaction. While "Cute or Not" is only BuzzFeed's second app, the first being a traditional mobile experience of their website, it's also the first of they're calling a "year of apps," meaning we can expect other experiments based on shareable media.

As a way of engaging with users, BuzzFeed's new app is a U-turn from its normal strategy. Around 75% of the site's traffic comes from social networks, namely Facebook. With a stand-alone app like "Cute or Not," BuzzFeed has a way of getting user interaction without relying on Facebook or other sites, which may filter their usual site content based on algorithms.

Should "Cute or Not," or any other similar app BuzzFeed comes up with, take off among users, it could serve as a valuable asset to lure advertisers. And that would give them a bit more control than relying on what Facebook's timeline is showing their users.

VIA Fast Company

SOURCE BuzzFeed