Discovering that your partner may be using dating apps behind your back can be an upsetting and confusing experience. However, there are a few ways you may be able to find out if your boyfriend has an active Facebook Dating profile.
Look for the Facebook Dating app icon
The easiest way to check if your boyfriend has Facebook Dating is to look for the Facebook Dating app on his phone. This will be a bright pink-purple icon with a heart shape – very distinctive from the regular Facebook app icon which is blue.
If you see this icon on his home screen or app folders, it’s a clear sign he has the Dating platform enabled on his account. However, just having the app doesn’t necessarily mean he’s active on it. He may have just enabled it out of curiosity or to check it out briefly. Further investigation would be needed to determine if he is actively using Facebook Dating.
Check his Facebook activity log
Facebook keeps a log of all activity on your account that you can access. This includes any likes, posts, photos tagged, pages followed, and crucially – apps enabled.
To check his Facebook activity log:
- Go to his Facebook profile
- Click on the 3 horizontal line menu button in the top right
- Select “Settings & Privacy” then click “Settings”
- Go to “Your Facebook Information”
- Click on “Access Your Information”
- Select “Activity Log”
This will show a comprehensive log of all his account activity. Check for an entry like “Enabled Facebook Dating”. If you see this, it’s clear evidence he has activated the dating app.
Check the Facebook Dating profile
Every Facebook user has an automatically generated Dating profile, even if they haven’t enabled the dating app itself. You can access your partner’s Facebook Dating profile by:
- Go to his Facebook profile
- Click on the 3 horizontal line menu button in the top right
- Select “See Your Dating Profile”
This will open the Facebook Dating profile associated with his account. If he has filled anything out in the profile like photos, bio, preferences, etc – then it’s a sign he has been actively using the dating service.
Look for suspicious activity on his Facebook account
If your partner is actively engaging with other women through Facebook Dating, there may be subtle signs of this through his recent activity:
- New friends you don’t recognize, especially single women
- Increased commenting or liking activity, especially on photos of other women
- Changes to relationship status from “In a relationship” to “Single”
- Commenting flirty or suggestive messages
While none of these are definitive proof of cheating, they could be red flags something is going on if the behavior is out of character.
Check his phone and Facebook when he’s not around
One more direct way of catching a cheating partner on Facebook Dating is to check their phone or Facebook account when they step away from the computer or device. You can look for:
- Open Facebook Dating conversations
- Flirty messaging with matches
- Suggestive photos
- Planned dates with other women
If you have your partner’s phone password, you may also be able to browse through their Facebook Dating matches and messages when they are not around. However, keep in mind this is intrusive behavior and a breach of privacy.
Set up a fake Facebook Dating profile
Setting up a fake Facebook Dating profile with an attractive photo but blank bio is one way to potentially catch a cheating partner. The idea is that he may match with your fake profile, allowing you to strike up a conversation and gain proof he is actively looking to connect with other women.
However, this is extremely unethical and can seriously damage trust in the relationship. Spying or entrapping your partner is not healthy relationship behavior. Furthermore, Facebook prohibits setting up fake accounts and will delete them if discovered.
Consider using a background check service
There are professional background check services like TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate that provide detailed reports on an individual’s online activity and profiles. They can search through Facebook to potentially uncover hidden accounts, dating site usage, and more.
However, these services aren’t free – they usually cost around $30 to $50 minimum for a report. The legality is also questionable, with some states restricting using these kinds of services on a partner without their consent.
Talk to him directly and voice your concerns
If you have a feeling your partner may be active on Facebook Dating, having an honest conversation is better than turning to sneaky or underhanded methods. Voice your worries in a calm manner and gauge his reaction – does he get angry or defensive? Or is he understanding and transparent?
A partner who isn’t hiding anything will likely reassure you by showing their Facebook activity log, removing the Dating app, and promising to avoid that behavior going forward. However, someone using Dating apps secretively will likely get overly angry or make you feel guilty for questioning them.
Open and direct communication is the healthiest way to understand what may be happening. Jumping to conclusions or making accusations without evidence can damage an otherwise good relationship.
Consider if you want to continue the relationship
Discovering a partner is active on Facebook Dating can be shocking and upsetting. However, not all relationships can or should be salvaged after infidelity – online or otherwise. It’s important to think deeply if this is a person you want to be with long term if trust has been broken.
Get support from close friends and family during this time. Infidelity is often more about problems with the unfaithful partner than the person being cheated on. You deserve to be in a relationship with someone who respects you.
Conclusion
Suspecting a partner may be using Facebook Dating behind your back is an unsettling feeling. While there are a few ways to potentially uncover if he has an active dating profile, consider if sneaky surveillance methods are appropriate before proceeding.
In many cases, having an open and honest conversation about your worries is healthiest for the relationship in the long run. Approach the topic in a calm manner focused on understanding their behavior. If it turns out he has been unfaithful on Facebook Dating or other sites, take time to process those feelings and evaluate if you want to stay in that relationship.
Discovering a partner’s infidelity is painful, but know that you deserve to be in a relationship built on trust, communication and respect. Support from close friends and family can also help give you strength and perspective during this difficult time.
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Related Questions
Is having a Facebook Dating profile cheating?
Simply enabling Facebook Dating does not necessarily constitute cheating or infidelity. However, actively using it to match and communicate with other prospective partners would be considered cheating behavior in most committed relationships.
Can you see who views your Facebook Dating profile?
No, Facebook Dating does not show who has viewed or “seen” your dating profile. It is anonymous until you have matched with someone, unlike Tinder which shows who you’ve crossed paths with.
Is Facebook Dating safe?
Facebook Dating creates profiles automatically with limited info visible to matches. Users are also prohibited from sending photos or links in messages to prevent harassment. Safety features like sharing live locations and reporting inappropriate behavior help keep Facebook Dating safer than other apps.
Can you use Facebook Dating without an account?
No, you must have an existing Facebook account to access and use Facebook Dating. It is not available as a standalone app and doesn’t work anonymously.
Is Facebook Dating free?
Yes, Facebook Dating is completely free to use with no premium subscriptions or in-app purchases. All features are available in the free version.