Facebook Dating is built into the Facebook app, not a separate read
Facebook Dating lives inside the main Facebook app on your phone — you do not read it separately or create a new account. If you have Facebook installed, you already have access to the dating feature. On iPhone, open Facebook, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down, and look for "Dating". On Android, the menu is usually at the top right. If you do not see Dating listed, your account may not meet the requirements: you must be at least 18, have a profile photo, and live in a country where Facebook Dating is available (it is not offered everywhere).
The first time you open Dating, Facebook asks you to create a separate dating profile. This profile is hidden from your regular Facebook friends — they cannot see it unless you both match with each other. You choose which photos and information appear on your dating profile, and you can make it completely different from your main Facebook profile if you want.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook Dating is accessed through the main Facebook app on your phone, not downloaded separately, and requires you to be at least 18 with a profile photo.
- Your dating profile is separate from your regular Facebook profile and hidden from your friends unless you both match with each other.
- Facebook uses your activity and interests to suggest matches, but you control who sees your profile and who you message.
- Your dating information is stored separately from your main Facebook data, though both are subject to Facebook's privacy policy.
- You can delete your dating profile without affecting your main Facebook account, and matches are not visible to your Facebook friends.
What information Facebook uses to show you matches
Facebook Dating pulls from information already on your profile — your age, location, interests, and pages you have liked — to suggest potential matches. The algorithm also looks at your activity: which profiles you have viewed, which dating profiles you have liked or passed on, and how long you spend looking at certain types of profiles. This helps Facebook learn what kind of person you are interested in and refine suggestions over time.
You can control some of this. In your dating settings, you can set a preferred age range, distance radius, and height range if you choose. You can also exclude people who are already your Facebook friends, people who work at your workplace, or people who went to your school. These filters help you avoid matching with people you already know offline.
How your dating profile data differs from your main Facebook profile
Facebook stores your dating profile separately from your main account. The photos, bio, and preferences you enter for dating do not automatically appear on your regular Facebook profile, and your dating activity (who you message, who you like) does not show up in your Facebook feed or timeline. Your friends cannot see your dating profile unless you both match and start messaging.
However, both your dating profile and your main Facebook profile are covered by the same Facebook privacy policy. Facebook can use information from your dating activity for its own purposes — to improve the algorithm, to show you targeted ads, or to detect fraud. If you are concerned about what Facebook collects, you can review your data read through Facebook's settings: go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Your Information, then read Your Information. This shows you what Facebook has stored about you across all its services, including dating.
Messaging and matching on Facebook Dating
When you like someone's dating profile, they see a notification that someone liked them — but not your name or photo unless they like you back. Once you both like each other, a match is created and you can message. Messages on Dating are separate from your regular Facebook Messenger — they appear only in the Dating section of the app.
You can unmatch with someone at any time, and they will not be notified. The conversation disappears from both your inboxes. You can also report or block someone if they send unwanted messages or make you uncomfortable. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile or contacting you again.
Privacy settings specific to Facebook Dating
In your Dating settings, you can choose whether to show your full name, just your first name, or a nickname. You can also turn off your dating profile temporarily without deleting it — this hides you from other users but keeps your profile and matches saved. If you want to delete your dating profile permanently, you can do that too, and it does not affect your main Facebook account.
Facebook Dating does not show your location in real time, but it does show your general area (usually within a few miles). If you are concerned about location privacy, you can limit how far away matches can be, or you can turn off location services for the Facebook app entirely in your phone's settings — though this may affect other Facebook features.
What happens to your data if you stop using Facebook Dating
If you delete your dating profile, Facebook deletes your dating messages, matches, and preferences. However, Facebook may keep some information for legal or safety reasons — for example, if you reported someone for harassment, that report stays in Facebook's system even after you delete your dating profile. Your main Facebook account and data remain unchanged.
If you deactivate or delete your entire Facebook account, your dating profile is deleted as well. You cannot recover matches or messages after deletion, so if you think you might want to use Dating again, deactivating (which is temporary) is safer than deleting (which is permanent after 30 days).
How Facebook Dating compares to other dating apps on privacy
Facebook Dating has one advantage over standalone dating apps: you do not need to give a separate company your phone number, email, or payment information. Your dating activity stays within Facebook's ecosystem. However, this also means Facebook has more of your overall data — it knows your dating preferences, your regular social activity, your shopping interests, and your location history all in one place.
Standalone dating apps like Tinder or Bumble collect dating information only, so they have a narrower view of your life. But they may sell or share that data with third parties, and they often require payment for premium features. Facebook Dating is free, but you are paying with your attention and your data — Facebook uses what it learns about you to sell more targeted ads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Facebook friends see that I am using Dating?
No. Your dating profile is completely hidden from your regular Facebook friends. They cannot see that you are using Dating, and they cannot see your dating profile unless you both match with each other. Your dating activity does not appear in your Facebook feed or timeline.
What if someone I know in real life matches with me on Facebook Dating?
You can unmatch them when ready, and they will not be notified. You can also use the settings to exclude people from your workplace or school, which prevents them from seeing your profile in the first place. If you want to avoid matching with specific people, you can block them in your main Facebook account, and they will not appear in your Dating suggestions.
Does Facebook Dating work outside the United States?
Facebook Dating is available in many countries, but not all. If you do not see the Dating option in your Facebook menu, it may not be available in your region yet. Facebook has gradually rolled out Dating to different countries over time, so availability varies by location.
Can I use a fake name or photo on my dating profile?
You can use a nickname instead of your full name, and you can choose which photos to upload. However, Facebook requires at least one photo on your dating profile, and it should be a real photo of you — Facebook's terms of service prohibit catfishing or impersonation. If someone reports your profile as fake, Facebook may disable it.
What should I do if someone harasses me on Facebook Dating?
You can unmatch, block, or report the person. To report, open the conversation, tap the three dots or menu icon, and select "Report". Facebook reviews reports and may remove the person's account if they find a violation. Save screenshots of any threatening or explicit messages before you report, as they help Facebook investigate.