Facebook launches new Dating feature

In this April 4, 2013 file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg walks at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Facebook says it is launching new artificial intelligence technology to find intimate pictures that may have been uploaded without the consent of the photo’s subject. Facebook says it will be able to spot the photos and videos known as ‘revenge porn’ and send them to be reviewed. (Photo by MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ / AP)

MANILA, Philippines — When one says Facebook, what does this mean? Chatting with friends? Playing games? Sharing of photos?

This may begin to change as Facebook entered another social territory with the launching of Facebook Dating to 19 countries — including the Philippines — on Wednesday.

According to Charmaine Hung, Facebook Dating product manager, the feature is available within the Facebook application, which would allow people to match with other Facebook Dating users based on their preferences and interests.

“People in the Philippines already use the platform to connect and celebrate relationships, and we are excited to offer them new ways of doing so,” Hung said in a pre-launch press briefing.

How it works

Hung said Facebook users have to ensure that they have the updated version of the application to access the feature.

Within the Facebook app, users have to look for the Facebook Dating button and create an account separate from their own Facebook account.

Once the account has been set up, Facebook will look for possible matches depending on preferences and interests of the user.

The user will then have an option of expressing interest or passing on the possible match.

Users can also send a message to another user they are interested in even if they have yet to match. The user, however, can only send one message until the other party responds.

Facebook Dating has a separate messaging platform from Facebook Messenger where users can message each other.

Users also have the option include their preferences such as location, distance, gender, and age range for better matches.

Other information users can provide include religious views, height, job, educational background, and whether or not they want to have children in the future.

Similar to Facebook, users can also block and report other users who are being inappropriate in the application.

Hung, however, clarified that users have to be at least 18 years old and that Facebook friends could not match with each other.

Separating factors

Asked about the separating factor of Facebook Dating over other dating applications, Hung said they have the “Secret Crush” feature which allows users to anonymously let their “Facebook friend” know that they are interested in them.

“If you choose to use Secret Crush, you can select up to nine of your Facebook friends who you want to express interest in. If your crush has opted into Facebook Dating, they will get a notification saying that someone has a crush on them,” Hung said.

The “crush” will only be informed of the identity of the user once he or she has also expressed interest to the other party.

“If your crush adds you to their Secret Crush list, it’s a match. If there isn’t a match, then no one will know that you’ve entered a friend’s name,” Hung said.

Users can also retrieve other users who they have previously passed on through the “second look” feature. Other dating applications offer the same service by paying a certain amount.

“Everything that you see [in Facebook Dating] are completely free so we are really proud to say that all of these things are free. We won’t be charging for any features even if they are considered premium somewhere else,” Hung said.

Hung said can also check possible matches in events, for instance, who is attending an event that the user will also be attending.

/atm