Facebook Dating is a new matchmaking feature within the Facebook app that allows users to find potential romantic matches from among their friends of friends or people with shared interests. Here are some key details on how Facebook Dating works and what to expect if you decide to try it out:
Activating Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating does not automatically activate when you install the Facebook app. To access Dating, you first need to opt into it via Settings. Go to the Menu icon > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Facebook Dating and tap “Get Started.” You can choose whether you want friends to know you’re using Dating.
Building Your Dating Profile
After opting into Dating, the next step is building your Dating profile. This is separate from your regular Facebook profile. You can add up to 36 photos and answer icebreaker questions like “My perfect first date would be…” or “Two truths and a lie.” Your name, age, location, education, job, and pages/groups you’ve liked will also populate your Dating profile automatically to give matches a sense of your interests.
How Matching Works
Once your profile is set up, Facebook will suggest potential matches for you daily. You’ll see one suggested match at a time and can indicate whether you are interested or not. If you and another user both express interest in each other, it’s a “match” and you can start messaging. Matches are based first on your preferences like location, age, gender, and interests. Facebook also takes into account things like mutual friends and shared interests.
Interacting with Matches
When you get a match, either person has to make the first move within 24 hours before the connection expires. Once a conversation starts, there are no time limits. Some features for getting to know matches include:
- Icebreakers: Pre-set questions to message matches
- Conversational prompts: Share music, photos, events, and more
- Personalized media: Send photos, videos, GIFs that disappear after viewing
Secret Crush Feature
One unique aspect of Facebook Dating is the Secret Crush feature. You can select up to nine of your Facebook friends who you’re interested in. If they also opt into Dating and add you to their Secret Crush list, it’s a match. If your crush isn’t on Dating, doesn’t create a Secret Crush, or doesn’t put you on their list, they won’t know you selected them.
Safety Features
Facebook Dating includes several safety features like:
- Users must be 18+ to access Dating
- Your name and age do not show in your Dating profile
- You can block or report any Dating match
- No one can send photos, links, payments, or videos in messages
- Location sharing is optional and vague (ex. city-level)
Facebook also does not allow sexual language, romantic advances, or nudity in Dating profiles or messages.
Cost
Facebook Dating is free to use. There are no subscriptions or in-app purchases. The company states it has no current plans to make Facebook Dating a paid service.
Availability
Facebook Dating first launched in 2019 and is rolling out globally. As of October 2022, Facebook Dating is available in the following countries:
| Americas | Europe | Asia/Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Armenia | Australia |
| Bolivia | Austria | Bhutan |
| Brazil | Belgium | Brunei |
| Canada | Bulgaria | Cambodia |
| Chile | Croatia | Fiji |
| Colombia | Cyprus | Hong Kong |
| Ecuador | Czechia | India |
| Guyana | Denmark | Indonesia |
| Laos | Estonia | Japan |
| Malaysia | Finland | South Korea |
| Mexico | France | Laos |
| Paraguay | Germany | Malaysia |
| Peru | Greece | Nepal |
| Uruguay | Hungary | New Zealand |
| USA | Iceland | Philippines |
| Ireland | Singapore | |
| Italy | Sri Lanka | |
| Latvia | Taiwan | |
| Liechtenstein | Thailand | |
| Lithuania | Vietnam | |
| Luxembourg | ||
| Malta | ||
| Netherlands | ||
| Norway | ||
| Poland | ||
| Portugal | ||
| Romania | ||
| Slovakia | ||
| Slovenia | ||
| Spain | ||
| Sweden | ||
| Switzerland | ||
| Ukraine | ||
| United Kingdom |
Compatibility with Instagram and Messenger
Your Facebook Dating profile and matches will not appear on your regular Facebook profile or Instagram. However, you can optionally connect your Instagram posts to your Dating profile. You can also choose to message matches through Facebook Messenger if you prefer that over in-app messaging.
Conclusion
Facebook Dating provides a convenient way to seek romance through a platform many people already use daily. Key features like Secret Crush and compatibility matching based on interests make it unique compared to other dating apps. While participation is optional, Facebook Dating provides a large potential dating pool thanks to Facebook’s over 2 billion global users. However, users should be aware of privacy concerns given Facebook’s track record and set boundaries around what they share.