Facebook’s new dating service has launched across the UK and Europe for users to find relationships on the social network.
We've put together everything you need to know about the new service.
What is Facebook Dating?
The service was first tested in 2018 and introduced in the US last year. Facebook Dating is an opt-in service where users create a separate profile and interact with others away from their main Facebook page.
The social media giant hopes to emulate the success of apps such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, which have millions of users across their platforms.
The feature was initially due to be released in the UK earlier this year, but was delayed after a documentation timing issue with its lead EU regulator, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC).
The social media giant said that since its launch in other parts of the world, more than 1.5 billion matches had been made in the 20 countries where the feature is available.
What have Facebook said about the new Dating service?
Facebook said Dating had been built with “safety, security and privacy at the forefront”.
“We worked with experts in these areas to provide easy access to safety tips and build protections into Facebook Dating, including the ability to report and block anyone, as well as stopping people from sending photos, links, payments or videos in messages,” the company said.
“We won’t suggest current Facebook friends as potential matches or notify them that you’ve joined Dating. For example, your Dating profile, Dating messages, and who you like or match within Dating won’t appear on your Facebook News Feed.
“We’re committed to making Facebook Dating a place where people feel comfortable looking for a date and starting meaningful relationships.”
How will the Dating feature work?
The Dating feature also allows users to share Stories from Facebook or Instagram onto their dating profile and includes the Secret Crush tool, which lets users select up to nine of their existing friends from the network that they’re interested in.
If that person adds you to their own Secret Crush list, they will be matched, but if they don’t create a list or add the first user to it, that information will not be shared.
Once matched, users can go on virtual dates via the platform, using video calls built into the Dating feature.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article