Facebook is getting into the dating game

Facebook today announced plans to bring dating services to the Facebook app. Facebook Dating will use Facebook’s social graph to identify potential matches. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said people won’t be matched with friends and your friends won’t be able to see your dating profile.

“It’s going to be for real, long-term relationships, not just connections,” Zuckerberg said on stage at F8, Facebook’s annual developer conference being held today and tomorrow, May 1-2, at McEnery. Convention Center in San Jose, California. .

Also announced today: Facebook’s Oculus Go wireless virtual reality device goes on sale for the first time, augmented reality is coming to Facebook Messenger and Instagram, and a “Clear History” tool has been introduced for users. users keen to share their activity with the social media giant.

About 200 million Facebook users identify as single in their relationship status, a Facebook spokesperson told VentureBeat in an email.

Dating profiles can be created by tapping the heart icon in the top right corner of your user profile.

Users will need to register to create a dating profile and be seen by people around them. Dating profiles only share a user’s first name. Users will also have the choice to unlock their dating profile for nearby groups and events to meet people with similar interests.

“We like it because it reflects the way people actually hang out, which is usually at events or institutions they know,” said Chris Cox, Chief Product Officer.

Dating Encounters can chat and text only in a chat experience that does not connect to Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.

“We hope this will help more people meet and find more partners. We’re excited to share a lot more about this in the coming months,” Cox said.