Facebook Dating was launched in 2018 as Facebook’s attempt to get into the lucrative online dating market. Since then, there has been some speculation about whether Facebook Dating has been discontinued or is still available to users.
Is Facebook Dating still active?
Yes, Facebook Dating is still active and available to users as of October 2023. Facebook has not announced plans to shut down or discontinue their dating feature. It remains part of the Facebook experience for eligible users.
In which countries is Facebook Dating available?
Facebook Dating is available in the following countries as of October 2023:
| Argentina | Mexico |
| Australia | Paraguay |
| Austria | Peru |
| Belgium | Philippines |
| Bolivia | Singapore |
| Brazil | Sweden |
| Canada | Switzerland |
| Chile | Thailand |
| Colombia | United States |
| Ecuador | Uruguay |
| Guyana | Vietnam |
| Laos | |
| Malaysia |
So Facebook Dating remains widely available across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Facebook continues to expand the list of countries where the dating feature is offered.
Is Facebook Dating available to all Facebook users?
No, Facebook Dating is not available to all Facebook users. It has certain eligibility requirements that users must meet. These include:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Having an active Facebook account
- Having a profile with genuine information about yourself
- Living in a country where Facebook Dating is available
Users also must opt-in specifically to Facebook Dating after meeting eligibility criteria. So it is not an automatic feature or option for all users and requires specific action to access.
What are the main features of Facebook Dating?
Facebook Dating provides users who opt-in with the following main features:
- Secret Crush – Users can select up to 9 Facebook friends or Instagram followers they are interested in romantically. They will only be notified of a match if that person also adds them to their Secret Crush list.
- Events and Groups – Users can explore others who are interested in the same events and groups they are part of on Facebook.
- Stories – Users can share their everyday moments via their Facebook Dating profile story.
- Matching – Algorithmic matching of potential romantic partners based on preferences, interests, and other profile details.
- Chat – If two users match, they can message each other independently via Facebook Dating messenger.
These features allow Facebook Dating to leverage a user’s existing Facebook network, interests, and information to help facilitate romantic connections.
How successful has Facebook Dating been?
It is difficult to quantify the absolute success of Facebook Dating given that Facebook does not release detailed user statistics. However, there are some positive signs regarding uptake and engagement:
- Over 1.5 billion matches were made in the first year since launch based on Facebook’s figures.
- By May 2020, Facebook Dating had been used by over 54 million users.
- Engagement rates and number of downloads for the standalone Facebook Dating app have remained strong.
- Facebook has continued expanding country availability, suggesting ongoing investment.
While Facebook Dating has not eclipsed the top dating apps like Tinder, its integration with Facebook’s ecosystem provides a unique value proposition. Facebook Dating connects to users’ real identities and social graphs, which many see as an advantage. This suggests a healthy base of users will likely continue engaging with the feature.
What experts say about Facebook Dating’s success
Here are some expert perspectives on Facebook Dating’s performance and success so far:
Positive opinions
- “The seamless integration with Facebook and Instagram gives it a leg up on some competitors.” – Industry analyst
- “Leveraging existing profiles and connections is brilliant – it solves the cold start problem.” – Dating app entrepreneur
- “I see Facebook Dating as incrementally contributing to the company’s bottom line even if it isn’t a smash hit.” – Tech writer and author
Negative opinions
- “Privacy issues around Facebook make me hesitant to use its dating feature.” – Security researcher
- “It feels like just another attempt by Facebook to expand its empire rather than innovate.” – Industry commentator
- “The video dating trend is much more engaging than static profiles in my opinion.” – Dating coach
So expert opinion on Facebook Dating varies, but overall it is seen as a worthwhile initiative by Facebook even if usage still trails behind some established dating apps. The privacy factor remains an ongoing concern.
Conclusion
In summary, Facebook Dating remains an active product at Facebook, available in dozens of countries globally to eligible users. It has achieved solid user uptake so far, though lags behind top apps like Tinder and Bumble. Its integration with Facebook’s ecosystem is innovative, though some experts cite privacy as an issue. While not revolutionary, Facebook Dating has found its niche and continues operations as part of the company’s overall product portfolio. Its future success will depend on user trust as well as Facebook’s ongoing willingness to invest in and refine the product.