Systems and methods for matching facial images to reference images

A computerized method, the method comprising:

• populating, using a computer system comprising hardware, a first user interface, for display on a user device associated with a first user, with images comprising respective reference facial images of different people;
• receiving, at the computer system from the user device, a selection by the first user of a plurality of reference facial images;
• characterizing a plurality of facial features of respective reference faces using a facial feature recognition engine, the respective faces comprising faces included in the reference facial images selected by the first user;
• applying respective weights to the plurality of facial features of respective reference faces;
• using the weighted plurality of facial features to identify a plurality of users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features, wherein the respective reference faces include faces different than the faces of the plurality of users;
• generating respective similarity scores for the identified plurality of users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features;
• using the generated respective similarity scores for the identified plurality of users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features to generate a ranking of the identified plurality of users;
• causing a second user interface to be displayed on the user device, the second user interface populated, in ranked order, with the identified plurality of users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features;
• receiving, via the second user interface, a selection, by the first user, from the user device, of a second user in the plurality of users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features;
• and
• enabling the first user and the second user to communicate over at least a first electronic communication channel.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• populating a first user interface, for display on a user device associated with a first user, with images comprising respective reference facial images of different people;
• receiving a selection by the first user of reference facial images;
• characterizing a plurality of facial features of respective reference faces using a facial feature recognition engine, the respective faces comprising faces included in the reference facial images selected by the first user;
• applying respective weights to the plurality of facial features of respective reference faces;
• using the weighted plurality of facial features to identify users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features, wherein the respective reference faces include faces different than the faces of the plurality of users;
• generating respective similarity indicators for the identified users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features;
• using the generated respective similarity indicators for the identified users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features to generate a ordering of the identified users;
• causing a second user interface to be displayed on the user device, the second user interface populated, in accordance with the ordering, with the identified plurality of users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features;
• receiving, via the second user interface, a selection, by the first user, from the user device, of a second user users that have one or more facial features similar to one or more of the weighted plurality of facial features;
• and
• enabling the first user and the second user to communicate over at least a first electronic communication channel.