Facebook Dating: Here’s an Overview of Facebook Dating – Facebook already helps you keep track of your college friends and remember when your cousin’s birthday is, but the social media behemoth is now dabbling in romantic matters.
Facebook Dating isn’t exactly new; it debuted in 2018.
The service was previously limited to 19 countries, including Colombia, Thailand, Canada, Brazil, and the Philippines, but the company announced today that Facebook Dating would expand to a 20th: the United States.
Here’s an overview of Facebook Dating and its features.
Facebook Dating isn’t a separate app.
You do not need to download another app to use Facebook Dating, unlike other Facebook applications such as Messenger. According to Nathan Sharp, Facebook Dating’s product lead, you need to opt into the service via your daily Facebook app and build a Dating profile.
Your main Facebook profile and your Dating profile are completely different, even if they’re accessible via the same app—your Facebook friends won’t realize you’re using Dating unless you inform them. Your Facebook friends will never be recommended as matches.
Matches on Facebook Dating are suggested to you, and there’s no swiping
According to a press release, “Facebook Dating isn’t about swiping or having to wait for someone to like you to get a first chance at reaching out.”
People are recommended to you based on your Facebook likes, interests, and other activities. If you’re interested in anyone, you can comment directly on their profile or press the “like” button to let them know. You should decline if you are not involved.
You can also choose if you want friends of your Facebook friends to be recommended as matches for you or whether you’d rather match with people who aren’t friends of friends.
If you do want to match with your Facebook friends, Secret Crush has your back
Secret Crush, a feature of Facebook Dating, allows you to match people you already know on Facebook and Instagram. By default, Facebook Dating will not pair you with your Facebook friends, but the Hidden Crush feature allows you to do so.
If you use Secret Crush, you can pick up to nine of your Facebook friends or Instagram followers that you are interested in. (To add Instagram followers, you must first connect your Instagram account to Facebook Dating.) If your Crush has decided to engage in Facebook Dating, they will receive a message telling them that they have a crush on them. You’ll fit if your Crush has also added you to their Secret Crush list!
However, if your Crush isn’t on Facebook Dating, doesn’t make a Hidden Crush list, or doesn’t add you to their list—they’ll never realize you added them to your list.
If you decide to go on a date with someone, you can share your location via Messenger
People who use Facebook Dating can use Messenger to share information about their upcoming date and live location with someone they trust, and you can choose whether or not to use this feature.
You’ll soon be able to connect your Facebook and Instagram Stories to Facebook Dating
Although the feature isn’t yet available, Facebook Dating told MH that a new update coming later this year would allow users to showcase their Facebook and Instagram stories on Facebook Dating.
Facebook Dating is entirely free
All of Facebook Dating’s features are still open, and unlike some other apps, you can always see who has liked you.
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