Keeping up with the latest social media trends can be tricky, especially when they seem to change overnight. In the last few years, online dating has surged in popularity once again.
According to Statistica, 42% of Americans now use dating apps. Moreover, Statista forecasts that this user base will grow from 191 million users in 2018 to 222 million users by 2021. It’s not surprising then that social media platforms are integrating features that cater directly to this growing user base.
In October 2018, Facebook announced plans to introduce new features for browsing and interacting with potential partners as part of their new dating service called “Secret Crush”.
At its core, Secret Crush is essentially a standalone version of Relationship Status that enables you to browse potential partners and initiate contact with them if you like what you see. > Keep reading for 10 tips on using Facebook Dating the right way…
1. Stay safe and know the risks
When it comes to online dating, there’s always a risk of falling into a scam or being targeted by someone who is not who they say they are. Scammers often pose as attractive people online to get you to divulge personal information and money.
For example, you might receive a message from someone who says they’re interested in you but they live in another country or they ask you for money to help them out with an emergency. You might also be targeted by bots, which are automated systems designed to deceive you into thinking you’re talking to another person when you’re really talking to a computer.
Don’t get too down on yourself if you get a solicitation for sex or someone asks you to send them money—these things happen, but they’re also easy to avoid if you’re aware of the risks and why they occur.
2. Don’t use your real name or photo
The key to signing up for Facebook Dating is not to use your real name and images from your public profile. This is because Facebook Dating is not integrated with your existing Facebook profile and won’t be visible to anyone on your friends list.
If you use your real name and images, your potential matches won’t be able to find you through Facebook’s search which means your account won’t be visible to anyone unless they’re in a group with you and/or you’re a friend with them on Facebook.
Although you can’t guarantee that no one will find you, you can lower your chances of being found by using a pseudonym and profile images that don’t look like they could be associated with your real name.
3. Don’t pay to use Facebook Dating
There are plenty of free dating apps and websites that offer their services for free. Dating websites don’t just want your money—they want your data. Instead of paying to date, you could try dating websites that don’t require you to pay. Or, you can use dating apps like Bumble or Tinder that offer free services but require you to use your Facebook profile to create a profile.
Depending on the dating app, you may have to link your Facebook profile to your dating account by either adding your name (e.g. “John Smith”) in your bio or scanning a barcode that links the two profiles. When you’re ready to use Facebook Dating, you can delete your dating profile from the dating app and link your Facebook profile to the dating app instead.
4. Set clear intentions and expectations
Before diving into Facebook Dating, it’s important to set intentions and expectations for yourself. Are you hoping to meet someone special for a long-term relationship or are you just trying to expand your dating pool and meet new people? Are you strictly looking for dating or are you open to short-term and long-term arrangements?
Are you open to meeting people who have children or do you prefer to date people who don’t have children? Are you open to dating people in your age range or are you open to meeting people who are older than you or younger than you? Are you willing to date people who live in your area or are you open to dating people who live in other parts of the world?
5. Join groups for more options
One of the best ways to meet new people is to join groups on Facebook. It’s important to note that not all groups are for dating purposes, but you can use groups to meet new people and expand your dating pool. There are dating groups on Facebook that cater specifically to people who are looking to date other people in their area.
These groups post events and invite people to attend them so that you can meet new people in your local area. When you join a dating group, make sure that you read the group rules and abide by them. Avoid sending unsolicited messages to people outside of the group, and be respectful of other members.
6. Be discerning with Likes and Interests
When you’re looking at potential matches on Facebook Dating, you have the ability to see if the person likes the same things as you or if the person has similar interests to yours. Not all Likes and Interests are created equal, though. If you’re looking to date people in your age range, you might want to avoid dating people younger than you or older than you.
If you’re looking for a long-term relationship, you might want to date people who identify as single. If you’re open to short-term arrangements, you might want to date people who are in a relationship. If you’re open to dating people who have children, you might want to avoid People with Interests related to parenting.
7. Be choosy with who you chat with and meet up with
Once you initiate contact with potential partners, be choosy about whom you decide to chat with and meet up with in person. If a potential match is unwilling to meet you in person at the very beginning, don’t waste your time.
Once you decide to meet with a potential match in person, make sure to meet in a public place and be extremely cautious. Use your best judgement, and if something feels off, walk away.
8. Be selective about the information you share
It’s important to remember that Facebook Dating is a standalone app that is not connected to your existing Facebook profile. Even though you’re meeting people on Facebook and using Facebook to facilitate the dating process, the content you share won’t be visible outside of the dating app.
That means you don’t have to worry about future employers seeing your dating profile in the same way that you would have to worry about an employer finding your dating profile on Facebook. However, you don’t have the same amount of control over your dating profile as you do your main Facebook profile.
9. Be cautious of who you decide to date
It’s important to be cautious of who you decide to date, especially if you’re dating multiple people at the same time. When you’re dating several people, it’s important to be cognizant of the fact that you have choices. You have the ability to reject people, and you have the ability to walk away from people if you’re not happy with them or they’re not treating you well.
To make sure you don’t end up dating people who are unstable or dangerous, be conscious of the amount of time you’re spending with each person and how often you’re connecting with each person.
10. Use Secret Crush as a means to diversify your dating pool and find new people to meet IRL
As you’re browsing and swiping on Facebook Dating, you may find that you’re meeting people who aren’t a good fit for you. You may also find that you’re meeting people who you like but aren’t interested in dating.
If this happens, don’t dismiss these people entirely. Instead, make note of the people you meet on Facebook Dating. Then, when you’re ready to expand your dating pool or meet new people IRL, you can use your list of Facebook Dating matches as a reference point or as a means of expanding your options.
Why am I not getting any hits on Facebook Dating?
The first thing you should check is whether the person you’re attempting to reach is already in a relationship. Facebook Dating allows users to view their current Relationship Status and select whether they are “in a relationship” or “single”.
If they are listed as “in a relationship”, they will not see you as a potential date even if you like them. If they are single, you can also make sure that your privacy settings are set to “public”. As with any other social network, your profile will only be visible to your friends on Facebook Dating if your privacy settings are set to “Friends”.
If you have set your dating profile to “private”, you will only be visible if both you and the person you’re interested in have mutually set one another to “Friends”.
What does the purple dot mean on Facebook Dating?
The purple dot next to a person’s name in your dating search results indicates that they have seen your profile. You can then send them a like or message to initiate contact.
Can you tell if someone read your message on Facebook Dating?
There is currently no way to know whether someone has read your message, how soon they read it or if they are even interested in responding to it. If the person is not interested in pursuing a relationship with you, they may not respond to your message at all.
How do you start a conversation on Facebook Dating?
You can start a conversation with someone you are interested in dating by liking their photo, messaging them directly or sending them a friend request. If you like their photo, you can click on the “Secret Crush” icon and select “let them know”.
After clicking “let them know”, you can write your message. If you send them a friend request, you can click on “let them know” and type in a message. If you send the friend request and they haven’t set up their dating profile yet, they will see a message that states “so-and-so wants to be your secret crush.”
How do you break the ice on Facebook Dating?
In order to break the ice on Facebook Dating, you can use some of the standard icebreakers that are used in face-to-face dating. You can also use the information you’ve learned about the person on their dating profile.
For example, you can ask them about their job, their hobbies or their interests. You can also ask them what they are looking for in a relationship.
How do you keep a conversation going online dating?
To keep a conversation going, you can ask follow-up questions about their answers. You can also use emojis to help keep the conversation light. If you are talking about something serious, try to keep the conversation balanced.
What are the 7 tips for online dating?
- Follow the same rules and guidelines you would in a face to face situation.
- Always use a real picture of yourself and one that is recent.
- Make sure your profile is well written and accurate.
- Don’t forget to put yourself out there!
- Remember that internet dating is about meeting new people.
- It’s not a race, so give yourself time.
- Be yourself
What should you not do on a dating app?
Here are a few things that you should not do when using a dating app:
- Do not use only emojis or GIFs in your conversations. No matter how funny they are, they don’t show that you’re interested in them or that you’re taking the conversation seriously.
- Do not post a picture of yourself that doesn’t represent your current appearance.
- Do not post a picture of yourself that you don’t want people to see.
- Do not be overly aggressive or inappropriate.
- Do not send messages to people who aren’t interested in you.
- Do not ask someone out if you’ve only talked to them online.
What should I say in my first message on a dating site?
When it comes to first messages, you should keep them simple and avoid asking questions that may be considered inappropriate. A great first message would be something like: “Hi, my name is _____, what’s your name?” Another option would be to ask them a question based on something they wrote in their dating profile.
What should you not say on a dating site?
Some things you should avoid saying on a dating site are:
- Anything that is rude, offensive or inappropriate.
- Anything that is too sexual.
- Anything that is too personal too soon.
- Anything that reveals your identity.
- Anything that is too long-winded.
What are the dangers of online dating?
Although online dating has become more popular in recent years, it’s important to understand that there are certain dangers that come with it. While you may be more likely to find dates on dating apps, you may also be more likely to encounter fake accounts and scammers.
You may also be more likely to encounter people who are not looking for serious relationships. Additionally, you may be more likely to encounter people who want to exploit others or who may be dangerous in other ways.
As with any type of dating, it’s important to be cautious and to take certain steps to ensure that you’re being safe. If you’re concerned about the dangers of online dating, you can take some steps to decrease your risk.
You can sign up for dating apps with a different email address than the one you use for your other online accounts. You can also avoid giving out personal information like your address or phone number.
Conclusion
Facebook Dating is a great way to meet new people. However, it’s important to follow some rules of thumb to keep yourself safe. Remember to always use a real picture of yourself, never give out your personal information, and don’t do anything that could lead you to being in a dangerous situation. Follow these tips to make sure you’re using Facebook Dating the right way.