How Facebook Dating Works – Facebook is a global social networking site that connects billions of people. It’s now assisting them in meeting new people and (possibly) finding love.
Following the launch of its latest dating service, Facebook Dating, in 19 countries last year, including Argentina, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, the social network behemoth is now launching it in the United States.
Users who opt-in and build a dating profile will be suggested potential matches based on their Facebook activity, according to Facebook, which announced the new dating service at its 2018 F8 developer conference. The service pairs possible matches based on dating preferences, mutual acquaintances, parties, and events attended on Facebook. Additionally, it is entirely free to use.
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With this feature’s launch, Facebook joins the $3 billion dating industry, dominated by apps like OkCupid, Tinder, and Bumble. On Thursday, Match Group (MTCH), which owns Tinder and OkCupid, saw its stock drop as much as 6%. The stock dropped more than 15% on the day Facebook announced the dating feature.
Facebook has the distinct benefit of tap into its estimated 221 million US users when it enters the fray. According to a Pew Research poll, seven out of ten adults in the United States use Facebook, meaning that the platform would have a large user base when it launches. Tinder, on the other hand, has a user base of just 3.8 million people.
According to another Pew Research survey, just about half of American teenagers (51%) use the main Facebook app. Since this dating feature is only available to users aged 18 and up, it is unlikely to support Facebook’s dwindling teen popularity.
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Currently, the service is only accessible on mobile devices and does not require any additional downloads. It’s built right into Facebook’s main app. You can get to it by going to the top-right menu, where the marketplace and classes are found.
The app is independent of main Facebook accounts, according to Facebook, and is not scraped for data used to target ads. Of course, this could change in the future.
Users who create a dating profile can select which elements of their Facebook profile they want to share with their dating prospects, such as sharing mutual Facebook friends. They won’t be able to see people they’ve already added as friends on Facebook or people they’ve blocked.
Only first names are auto-populated in profiles at first. Users can then add information such as their venue, gender, height, religion, job title, business, colleges attended, whether they have children, and other typical details found in dating apps. Users can select from a list of choices that includes all, all women, trans women, all men, and trans men to date. Users may display their gender identity as cis woman, trans woman, cis man, trans man, or nonbinary.
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Up to nine images are included in a profile, as well as an icebreaker question like “What three emoji best reflect you?” Following the completion of the questionnaire, Facebook’s dating algorithm will select and display possible matches.
From this point forward, Facebook Dating is close to the majority of dating sites. If you’re looking for people who live close by, share your faith, or have some physical characteristics, it’ll help. Unique ethnicity searches, for example, are not available.
Instead of swiping left or right, users click a heart button to show interest or an “X” to switch. Unique content on someone’s profile, such as a photo or an answer to one of the icebreaker questions, can be liked. This is the same way the Hinge dating app works.
Other apps on the market heavily influenced the majority of Facebook Dating’s main features. You’re probably very familiar with the controls and how pairing works if you’ve ever used a dating app like Tinder, Hinge, or Bumble (i.e., when two people like each other, they are paired and can begin chatting).
Facebook Dating has a few unique features, the most notable of which is the “Secret Crush” option. You’ll find a section where you can add secret crushes to your interests if you scroll past the app’s events and groups section, where you can pair with people from Facebook events and groups.
In the Hidden Crush area, users can add up to nine Facebook or Instagram followers that they secretly admire, and they will be notified. When you add anyone to your Secret Crush list, they’ll get a notification. Users that have each other on their list will be paired, and a message will be sent to them. If they’ve been paired, they can begin messaging.
Facebook says that your secret crush will never know who added them to the list until you match with them. According to Facebook, the aim is for users to try to form relationships with people they know but are reluctant to approach.
It’s an intriguing word that’s only used on Facebook. There is no other operation in the United States that provides this level of coverage. It remains to be seen if it works, but it’s exciting to see Facebook use its vast user base to give Facebook Dating a leg up on other dating apps.
Finally, the most important feature of Facebook Dating is its focus on safety and support. The service now has a new “Share Your Plans” feature that allows people to easily share their locations with others if they decide to meet up for a date.
After you’ve done talking with one of your players, you can share your plans with family and friends to let them know where you’ll be meeting your date.
This feature allows you to share your current location with friends or family for a specified amount of time. It is easier for loved ones to keep track of you when you decide to meet with a stranger.
All 18-year-olds in the United States who have downloaded the most recent Facebook version will now participate in Facebook Dating.