Facebook Launches Their Dating Functionality in Colombia

• Facebook has launched their dating functionality for testing in Colombia.
• Facebook dating is currently usable through the Facebook mobile app only.
• The dating feature seems to have similarities with Hinge in comparison to Tinder.

For some time now, Facebook was working on a dating functionality for their social media platform. And today, Facebook dating has finally reached mainstream users. However, the feature isn’t globally out yet and is currently undergoing tests in Colombia.

Instead of using the swiping model, made popular by Tinder, the Facebook dating feature seamless take some lessons from Hinge. Users will be asked some questions and will be prompted to initiate conversations in accordance with something on another person’s profile.

However, the social media giant has added their own twist to the mix by integrating it with present features like Group and Events. Here is what Nathan Sharp commented on Facebook dating in an interview with The Verge - “Dating has been a behavior that we’ve seen on Facebook for a really long time,[...]We want to make it easier and more comfortable for people to engage in. We just thought that now was the right time.”

As of now, the feature is only present in the Facebook mobile application. To use it, you will have to be 18 years or older. It is free to use, ad-free, and doesn’t introduce any premium features. But that might not always be the case, as it is currently in the testing phase.

If you choose to use the features, you will have to create a separate dating profile which will include limited personal information for privacy measures. The application will only share your name and age with potential matches. You will also be asked to write a short introduction as is the case with any dating application.

The feature will then start to search for potential dating partners. It will do so based on location, liked pages, similar interests, and mutual friends. Also, the dating app will refrain from showing you the people who are already on your friend list. Instead, you will connect with people you don’t know or friends of friends.

Are you hoping to find your soul mate through Facebook dating? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below. We’d also love to hear back from you on Facebook or Twitter.