Facebook taking on Tinder with own dating platform

The app, which is now being tested internally by Facebook workers, allows users to specify if they want to match with people with mutual friends and choose from five genders: "trans woman", "woman", "trans man", "man" and "non-binary people".

Facebook is testing its new dating feature internally.

The format of the dating feature appears to be similar to other apps like Tinder, although it isn't clear whether it will include a swipe interaction to indicate whether users like each others' profiles.

Facebook announced the dating product at its F8 developer conference in the United States in May.

The social media giant later confirmed the dating product is in testing within the main Facebook app but declined to comment further.

"This product is for US Facebook employees who have opted-in to dogfooding Facebook's new dating product". The goal for this dogfooding is to test the end-to-end product experience for bugs and confusing UI. "This is not meant for dating your coworkers", the screenshot read. However the company also has informed the employees that they can not use the app for dating co-workers and that Facebook's company guidelines still apply while using the app.

Dogfooding is an informal term used by companies to describe internal testing. Facebook hasn't announced a release date for the dating app.

Mr Zuckerberg said his aim for the tool is to create "real, long-term relationships" and "not just hook-ups".

The development was spotted by Jane Manchun Wong, a computer scientist who last week identified that the company was developing a talent show feature for its app. "Your friends aren't going to see your profile, and you're only going to be suggested to people who are not your friends", he added. It will show you potential matches recommendations based on dating preferences, things in common, and mutual friends.