In 2024, 78% of dating app users reportedly feel “emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted” by the traditional swipe-based dating experience.
The mindless flicking through profile after profile, making split-second decisions based on a few photos and a witty bio, only to end up with matches that never lead to meaningful conversations.
Meta’s solution to this is an AI assistant that’s intended to help users find matches who are more closely tailored to what they are looking for.
For example, Meta might suggest users ask it to find “a Brooklyn girl in tech,” or a user could ask the AI to help refine their profile. Instead of hoping the algorithm understands your preferences based on your swiping patterns, you can literally tell the AI what you’re looking for using natural language.
Meet Cute: When Algorithms Play Cupid
But Meta didn’t stop at just improving search functionality. They’ve introduced something called “Meet Cute”—a new feature that gives users a weekly “surprise match” chosen based on its algorithm. Meet Cute pairs you with a surprise match each week, eliminating the decision paralysis that comes with infinite options.
Your Personal Dating Coach, Powered by AI
Beyond matchmaking, the AI assistant can also be prompted for dating advice, including effective pickup lines or romantic first date ideas. This is where things get interesting from a lifestyle perspective. We’re not just talking about a better search engine for potential dates—we’re talking about a comprehensive dating support system.
Imagine having access to personalized advice that takes into account your communication style, your interests, and even your dating history. You can use the assistant to provide dating ideas or help you level up your profile.
This addresses a real gap in the dating app ecosystem. Most platforms are great at introducing people but terrible at helping them actually connect meaningfully once they match. Meta’s approach suggests they understand that successful dating involves more than just putting two compatible people in the same digital space.
Facebook Dating’s Growing Momentum
While Facebook Dating might not have the cultural cachet of Tinder or the reputation for serious relationships like Hinge, the numbers suggest it’s finding its footing. The company says Facebook Dating matches among adults ages 18 to 29 have increased 10% year-over-year growth, with hundreds of thousands of users in that age group creating Facebook Dating profiles each month.
That growth is happening despite or perhaps because of the platform’s different approach to dating. While Tinder has about 50 million daily active users, and Hinge’s 10 million daily active users, Facebook Dating offers something its competitors don’t: integration with the social context you already have on Facebook.
This means your dating experience isn’t happening in a vacuum. The AI assistant has access to your interests, your social connections (without revealing your dating activity to them), and your broader digital life, potentially enabling much more nuanced matchmaking than apps that operate purely based on dating behavior.
