If you spend any amount of time on social media, you’ve probably come across the term “fake news.” Similarly, if you date online, you’ve almost certainly come across the term “catfish.” If you’re anything like me, you’ve also wondered from time to time whether you’re on the wrong website when you come across posts from people you’ve never met who profess their undying love for you.
There’s no denying that online dating can be a minefield of awkwardness, awkward conversations, and downright grossness. But as with any form of online communication, there are some great people out there, just waiting for the opportunity to meet someone just as wonderful.
And while it’s impossible to know whether you’ll actually get a match you’re attracted to on any given website, there are ways to make the experience a little more tolerable. To that end, this guide is going to break down everything you need to know about Facebook dating so you can find the right person for you and so that you can stop wondering whether the love you’re feeling is real.
What is Facebook Dating?
Facebook dating, for those unfamiliar with the term, is a way to find romantic partners on Facebook. While you’re probably most familiar with dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, Facebook has its own version of this digital mating ritual. Dating on Facebook isn’t as widespread as it is on other social media websites like Tinder, but it is gaining popularity every day.
How to Find Love On Facebook
It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of a new dating site. You find someone who seems perfect for you and then, before you know it, you’ve fallen in love. This is what happened to me when I first started using Facebook, but I quickly realized that meeting someone on this website was never going to work.
If you don’t know how to use Facebook correctly, or at all, pay close attention:
- Sign up with your real name
- Post pictures of yourself
- Keep your life as private as possible
- If the person you’re talking to asks for money, ignore them
- Be careful of people asking for personal information
Is Facebook Dating Safe?
The first question you should ask yourself before jumping into the world of Facebook dating is whether or not it’s a safe option to begin with.
As with any online activity, there are risks involved in using social media as a tool for dating. You could find catfish, you could be catfished, or you could become the victim of an elaborate scam.
See: How to activate and use facebook dating
But just like any other form of online interaction, there are ways to mitigate these risks. The most important thing you can do is use your instincts and trust your gut when it comes to someone who claims to be interested in you. If the person seems too good to be true, they probably are—and that’s no fault of Facebook’s.
Ultimately, some people will be more comfortable engaging in online dating on Facebook than others. It all depends on what level of risk you’re willing to take on.
How to Have a Successful Facebook Dating Experience
1. Stay Positive
It can be difficult to find the right person on Facebook, and it’s easy to get discouraged when someone you sent a message to doesn’t respond. However, it’s important not to let that discourage you from continuing your search.
2. Use a Thorough Profile
The profile is the first thing anyone will see when they come across your page, so it’s important to put effort into making sure it stands out. Include a lot of pictures, some information about yourself and what you like, and any other bits of information that might help people know about you more quickly and in more detail than if they just read text.
3. Be Yourself
A lot of the time there’s pressure to try and change who you are in order to attract someone with different interests or values. However, this will only result in an awkward situation where you come off as insincere or dishonest.
It’s better to be honest with yourself about who you are and how you want to present yourself online so that people get a good idea of what kind of person they’re dealing with from the beginning. If something doesn’t work for you but helps someone else find their match quicker, then that’s great! But don’t sacrifice who you are for the sake of getting a response
Things to remember when you’re on Facebook dating
It’s easy to get carried away when you start online dating, but it’s important to keep your head on straight. You should never give out personal information and never send money for anything. If a profile asks for this information or offers money in exchange for meeting them in person, be wary; people like that are looking to scam people and often steal their money.
Keep your profile public so that other people can see it. This allows you to connect with people without having to feel like you’re continuously asking them out on a date. It also lets other people know that they can be attracted to you without getting rejected every time they try.
Take the time to complete your profile completely and as honestly as possible. Remember, this is a service that lets other people find out what you enjoy. Include information about yourself and make sure your photos are high quality, current, and include at least one close up photo of your face.
If someone messages you through Facebook dating, respond politely but do not engage further if they seem pushy or unwilling to take no for an answer. If someone seems persistent or harassing, block them immediately. You don’t owe anybody any explanation or response unless you want to provide one.
Don’t worry about seeming too available or desperate if you message someone first on Facebook dating because let’s face it—online dating sucks! And there are way more guys than girls on these sites so most of the
How to take advantage of Facebook dating
There are a few things you can do to make sure that your Facebook dating experience is as pleasant as possible.
- First, make sure you’re on the right side of gender equality. The last thing you want is to be matched with someone who doesn’t know your gender, or worse, has you down for the wrong one.
- Second – and this is crucial: NEVER share personal information with anyone until you’ve confirmed they are who they say they are. That includes photos, phone numbers, addresses, etc.
- Thirdly, take advantage of all social media has to offer! Join groups and connect with friends of friends (or just friends) so that if you find someone interesting on Facebook dating, you have some backup plan in place before meeting them in person.
- Finally: Don’t put up with anything sketchy! If something feels off about a potential date from the start–if their profile looks poorly-made or if their messages come across as weird–then don’t feel obligated to go out with them. You might not be able to stop that person from messaging other people (which might not be your worst nightmare), but at least don’t give them more than one chance if they ask for more than one date.
How does Facebook dating work?
There are two ways to find someone on Facebook who you might be interested in dating. First, there’s the traditional browsing: scrolling through a list of profiles and looking for someone who’s attractive, interesting, and shares your interests. And then there’s the new “Nearby” feature.
With Nearby, you can now see people within a 50-mile radius of your location. It’s an easy way to meet people from your area without having to browse profiles or like pages that have nothing to do with where you live. With Nearby, it’s as simple as checking off the features you want (e.g., no kids and college graduate), and they’ll populate on the map in real-time.
How to do Facebook dating
Facebook dating is exactly what it sounds like: people sign up on the site with the intent of finding a significant other. It’s important to note that it’s not a way for you to find friends, or even casual acquaintances, on Facebook.
You can start by setting up your profile and then begin swiping through potential matches. This is where Facebook will ask you for some basic information about yourself, including your gender and age. You can also choose whether or not you want to allow people from outside your network (meaning friends of friends) to see your profile.
Why bother with Facebook dating?
1. You get to be yourself
The first thing many people say when they decide to give online dating a try is that it’s refreshing to not have to put on an act for the other person. That’s what makes Facebook dating so appealing; you don’t have to pretend that you like things you don’t or lie about your life, because you’re just as much a stranger as the person you’re talking to.
2. It’s free
There are many websites out there that offer free membership and Facebook is one of them! Plus, if your matches aren’t someone who you’re interested in, there’s no risk involved. And who knows? Your perfect match could be waiting for you on this site!
3. It’s easy
Setting up a profile takes no time at all and it doesn’t require any special skills or knowledge. The site does all the hard work of matching people based on their information and preferences which means that it’s easier than ever before to find someone who shares similar interests with you.
4. You’ll know how many profiles are being viewed
How to Find Some Love On Facebook dating
In order to find your perfect match on Facebook, you’ll need to carefully weed through some people who are a little less than deserving of your time.
You’ve probably seen this happen with posts from people you don’t know. Your news feed will be full of updates from people who want nothing more than to tell you that they love you.
You might also see them saying “I miss u so much,” or “I wish that I could ask u this question in person.” There are even a few people who might take it as far as saying “please answer my question in the next 24 hours or I will die.”
It sounds ridiculous and pathetic, but these messages persist, and you have to figure out what kind of person is sending them out. If someone is spamming your wall with messages like “remember me?” or telling you about their big day at work, then they are most likely not worth your time.
But if someone posts messages that sound legitimately interested in getting to know you better – those are the people worth reaching out to!
