Facebook unrolled its online dating service for the US on Thursday, a move taking over rivals like smartphone app Tinder. The free “Facebook Dating” website that was declared last year and already offered in different countries will let users link their Facebook and Instagram posts to a separate dating profile.
It will request to facilitate connections among the more than 2 billion users of the social network worldwide. “Facebook chemical analysis permits you to match with friends of friends and/or folks, not in your friend circle,” said a blog post from Nathan Sharp, who is the head of the project.
One of the features, “secret crush” which lets people connect if they both secretly express interest in each other. “Facebook chemical analysis will not match you with friends, unless you choose to use Secret Crush and you both add each other to your list,” Sharp said.
“Finding a romantic partner is deeply personal, which is why we built Dating to be safe, inclusive and opt-in. Safety, security and privacy are at the forefront of this product.”
Sharp said users will have the authority to report and block anyone, and prohibit people from sending photos, links, payments or videos in messages. Users can share their stories posts, which are short video clips, which will help the service be “authentic in a way that a typical dating profile can’t,” according to Sharp.
While declaring the plan last year, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook chief executive, said it was being designed for “real, long-term relationships, not just hook-ups.” He found out that one in three marriages in the US begins online and that some 200 million Facebook users identify as being single.
Facebook may have merit over competitors in that it can allow people to share profiles and images from their social media profiles. The dating service will be free to users, unlike some competitors which offer both free and paid plans.
Reportedly, the service has been already made available in 19 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Surinam, Thailand, Uruguay, and Vietnam.
It is set to release in Europe in 2020.
