Facebook has launched Facebook Dating in the United States. This comes after the initial launch of Facebook Dating in Colombia in 2018. Do you really trust Facebook to keep your dating data private?
Today, we’re launching Facebook Dating in the US We’re also giving people the ability to integrate their Instagram posts directly into their Facebook Dating profile and giving people the ability to add Instagram followers to their Secret Crush lists, in addition to Facebook friends. By the end of the year, we’ll make it possible to add Facebook and Instagram Stories to your Dating profile too.
Those who are interested can choose to opt into Facebook Dating and create a Dating profile that is separate from their main Facebook profile. You must be 18 years of age or older, and have downloaded the most recent version of Facebook. It is possible to block or report anyone on Facebook Dating and prohibit people from sending photos, links, payments, or videos in messages.
If you are interested in someone, you can comment directly on their Facebook Dating profile or tap on the Like button to let them know. If you aren’t interested in someone, you can pass on them.
Some of the functionality of Facebook Dating sounds questionable to me. For example, Facebook says you will be suggested to others who also have opted in to Facebook Dating based on your preferences, interests, and other things you do on Facebook. That means Facebook is using the data they gather about you in order to suggest potential dates. I am hoping the data gathering algorithm is smart enough to not select relatives of the person using the dating app.
Facebook says that Facebook Dating allows you to match with friends of friends and/or people not in your friend circle. It reportedly won’t match you with friends unless you use the Secret Crush feature to add a friend to your list, and that friend also adds you to their Secret Crush list. In other words, if you don’t want to date any of your Facebook friends – don’t add them to Secret Crush.
Another claim Facebook makes is that all of your Facebook Dating activity will stay in Facebook Dating, and won’t be shared to the rest of your Facebook. But, that seems misleading because Facebook knows who your friends are, and knows when you add a friend to the Secret Crush feature. There is some background overlap going on there.
In addition, Facebook Dating lets you connect with people on Instagram, which means your Instagram data may be commingled with your Facebook data if you use Facebook Dating. Maybe it already is. The issue is that you will end up with all your Facebook friends, and Instagram friends, having the option to try and date you.
Personally, I think the biggest reason Facebook wants to connect Instagram to Facebook dating is to try and convince more people to make Instagram Stories. Those can be added to your dating profile.