The dating shortcut allows you to access and use Facebook Dating directly from the Facebook app or website without having to download a separate dating app.
What is Facebook Dating?
Facebook Dating is an opt-in feature that allows you to create a separate dating profile from your normal Facebook profile. With Facebook Dating, you can match with friends of friends or people not in your friend circle. Some key things to know about Facebook Dating:
- It’s only available to users 18+ years old
- Your dating profile is separate from your normal profile
- You can choose to match with friends of friends or people not in your friend circle
- It suggests matches based on your preferences, interests, and activities on Facebook
How to access Facebook Dating
If you’re interested in trying out Facebook Dating, here’s how to access it:
- Open the Facebook app on your mobile device or go to www.facebook.com on your desktop.
- Tap on the menu icon in the top right and scroll down to find the dating shortcut.
- Tap on the dating shortcut. This will take you to the Facebook Dating setup flow.
- Opt-in to Facebook Dating by tapping “Get Started.” You’ll need to agree to additional terms.
- Build your dating profile by adding photos, answering prompts, specifying preferences like age range and distance, etc.
- Start matching with potential dates!
How to turn off Facebook Dating
If you decide Facebook Dating isn’t for you, it’s easy to turn off:
- Open the Facebook Dating tab on mobile or www.facebook.com/dating on desktop.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Tap on “Turn Off Dating” and confirm you want to turn it off.
Once you turn off dating, your dating profile and matches will be deleted and you won’t appear as a potential match to others. You can always turn dating back on in the future from the dating shortcut.
Why Facebook Launched Dating
Facebook launched dating for a few key reasons:
Shift in user behavior: More people were using Facebook to find romantic partners, so launching dating met an emerging user need.
Leverage Facebook data: Facebook has a ton of data on its users like interests, events, groups, and more. This allows Facebook Dating to suggest really tailored matches who share common ground.
Revenue opportunity: Facebook Dating offers premium paid features like seeing who likes you before you match with them. These features represent a new revenue stream for Facebook.
Facebook Dating safety features
Facebook has implemented a number of safety features to help protect user privacy and prevent harassment on Facebook Dating, such as:
No last names: User last names aren’t visible on dating profiles and you can choose whether to display your age.
No unwanted messages: You can only message mutual matches, preventing unwanted messages.
Sharing details: You control what photos and info appears on your dating profile versus normal profile.
Reporting: Easy reporting of inappropriate behavior directly in Dating chat.
Tips for Success with Facebook Dating
Ready to dive into Facebook Dating? Here are some tips:
- Choose photos that showcase your interests and personality.
- Provide prompts/info that give matches easy conversation starters.
- Be receptive to suggested matches outside your usual type.
- Make the first move and message matches you’re interested in.
- Stay safe when meeting matches in person and watch for red flags.
Facebook Dating provides a convenient way to meet potential partners right from your Facebook app. Approach it with an open mind, stay safe, and have fun!