Quick Answers
Facebook Dating is a built-in dating feature within the regular Facebook app. To access Facebook Dating, your Facebook account must meet the following requirements:
- You must be 18 years or older
- Your account must have been active for at least 1 day
- Your account must have a history of following Facebook’s terms of service
If your new Facebook account meets these requirements, you can access Facebook Dating by opening the Facebook app and tapping on the menu icon in the top right. Select “Dating” and walk through the setup process to create your Dating profile.
Enabling Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating is available as a feature within the regular Facebook app. To use Facebook Dating, you first need to make sure your Facebook account is eligible:
- You must be 18 years or older. Facebook requires users to be at least 18 to sign up and access many features, including Dating.
- Your account must have been active for at least 1 day. This is to prevent fake accounts from accessing Facebook Dating.
- Your account must have a history of following Facebook’s terms of service. Accounts that have had major violations can be blocked from using Dating.
If your new Facebook account meets these requirements, you can enable Facebook Dating by following these steps:
- Open the Facebook app on your mobile device and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
- Scroll down and tap on “Dating.”
- Tap “Get Started.”
- Walk through the prompts to create your Dating profile. You’ll be asked to add photos, answer icebreaker questions, specify dating preferences, and complete your profile.
Once you’ve completed the setup process, Facebook Dating will be enabled and you can start viewing matches and interacting with other users. It may take up to 24 hours after completing your profile for your account to be reviewed and formally approved for Dating.
Troubleshooting Access to Facebook Dating
If you’re having trouble accessing Facebook Dating on your new Facebook account, here are some things you can try:
Meet the eligibility requirements
Make sure your new account meets Facebook’s eligibility requirements for using Dating:
- You are 18 years or older
- Your account has been active for at least 1 day
- You have not violated Facebook’s terms in the past
If your new account does not meet these requirements, you’ll need to wait until it does to access Dating.
Update the Facebook app
The latest version of the Facebook app is required to use Facebook Dating. Make sure you have updated to the most recent version of the Facebook app for your device.
Check your location settings
Facebook Dating requires location services to be enabled on your device in order to work properly. Check that you have allowed the Facebook app to access your location information.
Wait 24 hours
It can take up to 24 hours for Facebook to review and approve your Dating profile after you first set it up. Try waiting a day and checking again if Dating is not yet available.
Contact Facebook support
If you still cannot access Dating after trying the steps above, you may need to contact Facebook support for additional help troubleshooting and gaining access to the feature.
Using Facebook Dating Safely
When using any online dating platform, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Here are some tips for safely using Facebook Dating:
- Be cautious about sharing personal information like your phone number or email address.
- Don’t include your full name or current location in your profile.
- Conduct video chats before meeting someone in person.
- Meet for the first time in a public place.
- Tell friends about who you’re meeting and where.
- Pay attention to any strange or suspicious behavior.
- Report any harassment, spam or fake accounts.
Facebook Dating does have some built-in safety features, like the ability to share details about upcoming dates with friends. Take advantage of these to stay safe while meeting new people.
Comparison to Other Facebook Dating Features
Facebook offers several options for meeting new people and dating beyond just Facebook Dating. Here’s a comparison:
| Feature | Facebook Dating | Facebook Groups | Facebook Events | Facebook Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Dedicated dating space | Connect over shared interests | Organize in-person events | Businesses/organizations |
| Matches | Romantic matches | No matches | No matches | No matches |
| Location | Standalone tab | Groups feed | Events feed | Pages feed |
As you can see, Facebook Dating is the only feature specifically designed for dating and romantic matches. The other options may facilitate meeting new people, but are more general social media community features.
Pros and Cons of Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating has both advantages and potential drawbacks to consider:
Pros
- Large user base. Access to many potential matches.
- Can screen matches easily. Just look at their existing profile.
- Syncs with your existing Facebook profile. Don’t have to recreate it.
- Free to use. No need to pay for premium features.
- Can share dating plans and location with friends.
Cons
- Less serious daters than paid sites/apps.
- Existing friends may see your dating profile.
- Less robust matching algorithms.
- Safety/fake profile concerns.
- Geared towards casual dating.
Overall, Facebook Dating is a solid free option worth trying out if you’re looking to meet people online. But it helps to be aware of the potential limitations compared to paid dating sites.
Conclusion
To access Facebook Dating on a new account, you must meet Facebook’s eligibility requirements, update to the latest app version, enable location access, and complete the Dating profile setup. Give Facebook up to 24 hours to review and approve your new Dating profile before matches will appear. Take reasonable safety precautions when meeting matches in person. While a useful free dating option, Facebook Dating does have some limitations versus paid dating sites.