Facebook Dating: Is Anyone Actually Using It?
▼ Summary
– Facebook Dating has 21.5 million daily active users across 52 countries, despite being less discussed than other dating apps.
– It is a feature within the main Facebook app, prominently placed in the navigation bar regardless of relationship status.
– Facebook Dating is gaining traction among young people, with 1.77 million U.S. users aged 18-29 and a 24% spike in daily conversations in that demographic.
– A key advantage is its free model, which avoids paid features like Hinge’s “roses” that require purchases for premium matches.
– Meta profits from user data instead of charging for dating features, making it appealing as users grow frustrated with other apps’ monetization.
When conversations turn to digital romance, names like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge typically dominate the discussion. Facebook Dating, however, often gets overlooked despite its substantial user base. Launched in 2019 as an integrated feature within the main Facebook app, it occupies a permanent spot on the navigation bar, visible even to those who aren’t actively seeking dates. While personal anecdotes might suggest it’s underused, recent data reveals a different story entirely.
Meta recently disclosed that Facebook Dating now attracts 21.5 million daily active users across 52 countries. This figure challenges the perception that the service is a digital ghost town. Even more compelling is its growing appeal among younger audiences. In the United States alone, the platform counts 1.77 million users between the ages of 18 and 29. Although this number still trails behind giants like Tinder, which boasts 7.3 million U.S. users, it signals meaningful momentum. Last year, daily conversations within this age bracket surged by 24%, suggesting that Facebook Dating is gradually resonating with a demographic Meta has historically struggled to retain.
One of the service’s strongest selling points is its straightforward, no-cost approach. Unlike competitors that lock desirable profiles behind paywalls, Facebook Dating provides full functionality without charging for premium access. For example, Hinge’s “Standouts” section showcases users the algorithm deems highly compatible, but interacting with them requires sending a “rose.” Users receive one complimentary rose each week, but additional ones cost $4 each. What’s more, recipients are notified when someone uses a rose on them, which can feel awkward or overly formal. This has led some frustrated daters to devise elaborate workarounds to bypass what they call “rose jail.”
In contrast, Facebook Dating’s model remains entirely free. This isn’t because of corporate generosity, Meta profits extensively from user data, but because the company doesn’t rely on in-app purchases for revenue. As dissatisfaction grows with paid features on other platforms, Facebook’s ad-supported, no-subscription structure becomes increasingly appealing. For budget-conscious singles tired of feeling nickel-and-dimed, Facebook Dating offers a refreshing alternative that prioritizes accessibility over upselling.
(Source: TechCrunch)
