Facebook is experimenting with a new speed dating service that allows users to dating via video chat. According to the app’s landing page, the new service, named Sparked, will provide “video speed dating for kind people.”
The Verge’s Ashley Carman was the first to report about the new app. The app would cycle through four-minute video dates, according to The Verge, which went through the sign-up process.
“Sparked” Can Help People Find Love Online?
Sparked is created by Facebook’s NPE (New Product Experimentation) team, which tests innovative, standalone Facebook services. The Verge was put on a waitlist during the sign-up process, so it’s unclear whether and when the app will go live.
“Sparked is an early experiment by New Product Experimentation,” a Facebook spokesperson told Insider. “We’re exploring how video-first speed dating can help people find love online. This is a small beta test, so we’ll keep you posted on how it works out.”
According to the app’s landing page, Sparked will have “video speed dating for kind people.” Users will no longer need public profiles, nor will they have to scroll through matches or send direct messages to set updates. According to the landing page, Sparked is free to use, but it does include a Facebook account.
If both users are comfortable and have a good time, they can then schedule a second date that lasts 10-minutes. According to The Verge, if the second date goes well, users are encouraged to stay in contact via another channel, such as Instagram, iMessage, or email.
You Have To Be Kind Enough To Use This App!
The sign-up process for Sparked, including a step where users will have to explain what makes them a kind dater. The responses will be “reviewed by a human at Sparked” before they can go on dates, The Verge reports.
Users must agree to a set of rules before beginning the sign-up process: be kind, make the app a safe space and show up for your dates.
Kindness is addressed many times during the Sparked sign-up process, including a step where users must define what makes them a kind dater. According to The Verge, the answers will be “checked by an individual at Sparked” before they can go on dates.
During the sign-up process, users are often asked if they want to date women, men, non-binary people, or trans people, according to The Verge.
The video speed dating aspect of Sparked bears some resemblance to Chatroulette, the late-aughts website that cycled through randomized webcam feeds.
In September 2019, Facebook introduced Facebook Dating, a dating app that competes with Hinge and Bumble by allowing users to create a profile and sift through possible matches. Users can “like” others’ profiles and comment on their images to start a conversation, similar to Hinge.
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