Facebook has today rolled out its dating service in the UK and Europe, at a time when millions of single people are banned from meeting in indoor places under Covid-19 rules.
The opt-in service, which sits inside Facebook’s main mobile app, allows users to “match” with someone they are interested in and go on “virtual dates” using Facebook’s video call tool.
Users can also see friends they have in common with potential love interests, and build their dating profile using information the company already has on them, such as likes, interests and photos.
For instance, a user can choose to see other people who are using Facebook Dating with similar interests by opting in to add their Facebook events and groups to their dating profile.
The tool will also let users make lists of “secret crushes”, which will only be revealed if the person in question has also listed them, and send details of upcoming dates with a friend in case something goes wrong. Users may also link their dating profile to their Instagram profile.
"If you choose to use secret crush, you can select up to nine of your Facebook friends or Instagram followers who you’re interested in,” the company said.
A screengrab of the new service
Credit: Facebook/Facebook
“If your crush isn’t on Dating, doesn’t create a Secret Crush list or doesn’t put you on their list — then your crush will not know that you’ve entered their name.”
The company said it hopes the service give users “a more authentic look at who someone is.” It added that it will never suggest Facebook friends as potential matches, and will only suggest friends of friends if users give it permission.
Facebook Dating, which places the social media giant in direct competition with the likes of Tinder and Bumble, launched in the US over a year ago and is already available in 19 other countries.
Its latest expansion is part of the social media giant’s growing ambitions to use its vast data bank and targeting capabilities to grab a slice of the £3.8bn global online dating industry.
Facebook's secret crush option
Credit: Facebook/Facebook
Last year, Forbes reported that Mark Zuckerberg allegedly dismissed the idea of meeting Tinder founder Sean Rad as he deemed him to not be "relevant" and that he was probably afraid of having his access to Facebook data turned off.
Facebook said the quotes were taken out of context by someone with an agenda against Facebook.
The Silicon Valley giant had originally planned to release the service in Europe on February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day. However, concerns were raised by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner after the company allegedly failed to provide it with the appropriate documentation ahead of its launch.
At the time, Facebook said it was taking a bit more time to ensure the product was ready for the European market and that it had shared information with the commissioner ahead of its debut in the bloc.
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