Telling your parents you met your significant other on Tinder might not be your proudest moment. But will telling them you met on Facebook Dating sound any better? Lucky for you, the United States is about to find out. In a Facebook post, Mark Zuckerberg announced the platform’s launch in the country.
Features
To be fair, Facebook has never been that far removed from the online dating scene. It already has existing apps that draw information from users’ Facebook pages (given the right permission is granted). For example, some apps like Tinder highlight common interests, while others like Coffee Meets Bagel show the number of mutual friends shared between users.
But now, with Facebook Dating, people will be able to, in Zuckerberg’s own words, “come together and find love around interests, groups and events in common.” The offering itself sounds pretty standard, but what gives Facebook a leg up (for better or for worse) is its extensive cache of personal data it has stored about YOU.
On top of this, another unique setting offered by Facebook Dating is its connectivity to Messenger. The app links up directly with Messenger, allowing you to tell a friend (or I suppose even your parents, if you’re that close to them) the name of the person you’ll meet up with. Fifteen minutes before a planned date, this designated person will receive a notification reminder and be granted access to your live location for up to an hour. (Personally, I can already imagine a group of friends watching me from behind a menu at a restaurant or bar. But hey, at least it keeps you safe!)
What’s all this without some images to back things up? Facebook Dating will be integrating its secret weapon, Instagram, onto its platform. It will allow users to feature their Instagram posts in their Dating profiles so that the whole experience is “more dynamic and authentic”. (The integration of Instagram / Facebook Stories are still a work in progress, but it’s coming!)
Last but not least, while Facebook Dating gives you the option to block your profile from specific people, it also lets you do the opposite. Through the “Secret Crush” functionality, users can pick up to nine ‘crushes’ among Facebook friends, and this will be revealed only if the feelings are mutual. Simply put, you’ll know if your crush also has a crush on you. It’s like high school all over again, isn’t it?!
With all the tools and data to back it, Facebook Dating might work for you. Maybe it won’t. But you never know until you try!
P.S. If you’re not convinced and still prefer good-old Tinder, don’t forget about Live Nation’s $30 ticket offer to users!
