Facebook Dating is a dating section, with no paid tier, inside the Facebook phone app, run by Meta for UK adults aged 18 and over. Mature Westcountry Singles is a separate dating site for over-40s in the South West. Facebook Dating suits people who live on Facebook; we suit people who want people their own age, nearby, with checks and moderators.
Facebook Dating and Mature Westcountry Singles at a glance
| Mature Westcountry Singles | Facebook Dating | |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses it | Over 40s in the South West, most 55 or over | Facebook users aged 18 and over |
| Where it lives | Its own site, in any browser on phone, tablet or computer | Inside the Facebook app on iPhone and Android only |
| Who runs it | An independent regional site on the HubPeople platform | Meta |
| Account needed | Just an email address | A Facebook account |
| Verification | Free ID checks with a badge, video checks with a moderator | Age checks to keep it to adults |
| Cost model | Classic membership, with paid VIP for unlimited messaging | No paid tier |
Information about Facebook Dating comes from Meta's own announcements and published guides, checked in October 2026.
Dating where you already spend time
The appeal of Facebook Dating is plain. There is nothing new to sign up for: you open the Facebook app, tap Dating and build a separate dating profile, which your Facebook friends do not see. Suggestions draw on the things you have in common, and a feature called Secret Crush lets you pick up to nine Facebook friends or Instagram followers, with a match only if they choose you too. It costs nothing, and some of our own members tell us they have had replies there.
The trade-off is that it is a feature inside a social network built for everyone. It only works in the phone app, not on a computer, and the people it shows you are Facebook users of every age who have switched it on.
A place that is only about meeting someone
Some people over 50 like their dating life kept well apart from the place where they share photos of the grandchildren and swap news with old school friends. On Mature Westcountry Singles nobody needs your Facebook account, your real name and email are never shown, and your location appears only as your nearest town.
Everyone here has joined for the same reason. You can write a proper profile, add photos, post a status update, answer polls and comment on other members' posts, which gives a conversation something to start from. Daily suggestions follow your age range, distance and interests. The features page has the rest.
People your own age, a short drive away
Because Facebook Dating is open to every adult on the platform, you rely on filters to find people in their fifties, sixties or seventies. On our site that is simply who is here: about two in three members are 55 or over, and there are slightly more women than men. Every member lives in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset or around Bristol, with Devon the busiest. See mature dating in Plymouth or Bath for two very different local pictures.
Checks and moderators on your side
Meta uses age checks to keep Facebook Dating to adults, and you can block and report people there. Here, a free ID check shows a badge, video verification with a moderator needs no documents, and our moderators work alongside automatic checks for unusual behaviour. If someone tries to move you to WhatsApp or text early, you get a warning.
Scammers try their luck with people over 50 on every platform, and a friendly stranger who soon asks for money or gift cards is the classic sign. Read our safety advice for the simple habits that keep dating enjoyable.
How each one charges, in plain terms
Facebook Dating has no paid level at all, which is a genuine plus. Our site has Classic membership, covering your profile, photos, browsing, suggestions and a daily allowance of messages, and if a VIP or VIP Plus member writes to you, you can always open it and write back. VIP adds unlimited messaging, search by city and distance and members-only chat rooms. The levels are on our pricing page.
When Facebook Dating might suit you better
If you already use Facebook on your phone most days, are comfortable with it and want to dip a toe in at no cost, Facebook Dating is an easy place to start. It also makes sense if you live outside the South West, or if you like the idea of a Secret Crush on someone already in your circle. Using it alongside a dedicated site is common, and nothing stops you doing both.
To weigh up the wider options, see which over-50s dating sites are worth your time.
Facebook Dating and Mature Westcountry Singles: your questions
Is Facebook Dating available in the UK?
Yes. It has been available in the UK since late 2020 for adults aged 18 and over with a Facebook account, inside the Facebook phone app.
Can my Facebook friends see my dating profile?
Meta keeps the dating profile separate from your main Facebook profile. On Mature Westcountry Singles there is no link to Facebook at all.
Do I need a Facebook account to join Mature Westcountry Singles?
No. You sign up with an email address, which is never shown to other members.
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