The act of being designated a “secret crush” within the Facebook platform involves a user being selected by another user as someone they are interested in romantically. This action is facilitated by a specific feature within the Facebook application that allows users to confidentially nominate individuals from their friends list.
This feature offers a potentially low-pressure method for expressing romantic interest, as the nomination remains private unless both parties mutually select each other. The perceived benefit lies in minimizing potential embarrassment or awkwardness associated with direct romantic overtures. The feature was introduced as a way to encourage connection and facilitate potential relationships within the existing social network.