Renting a 'shared girlfriend' in China is probably exactly what it sounds like

Sharing economy apps like Rent Me offer escorts advertised as ‘girlfriends’

Sharing economy

Masha Borak

Published: 10:09pm, 6 Jun, 2019

Why you can trust SCMP

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

From sharing bicycles to apartments and even cats, the sharing economy has long been touted as the next big thing. But what does it mean to have an app for shared girlfriends? In China, it might just mean the oldest profession in the world.

A report from Xinhua has called out some apps in China for using the sharing economy buzzword to provide services that you probably won’t find on TaskRabbit.

Apps such as Zu Wo (Rent me), Gan Zu (Dare to rent) and Zu Wo Me have been called Uber for escorts. You can pay for companionship for activities such as shopping, modeling, working out, clubbing, emotional counseling and more.

However, if you search for the term “shared girlfriend,” you might also be able to get access to pornography and possibly prostitutes, both of which are very illegal in China. Hourly prices range between US$30 to US$40, while some women charged upwards of US$145, according to the report.

“Door-to-door massage, the price is 499 yuan [US$72], and the [cab] fare is extra," one service provider said when asked by a reporter which of her services were not listed in the app.

Our own look into the apps showed they do have content that could be characterized as risque. Some users showed off in skimpy clothes and posted suggestive introductions, with one companion characterizing herself as a BBW (big beautiful woman). The apps also include the height, weight and sometimes even the zodiac sign of each companion.

Great way to find friends or Uber for escorts? (Picture: Screenshot from Zu Wo Me)

China is no stranger to the boyfriend and girlfriend rental business, but other iterations had fewer illegal connotations. The girlfriend rental business first came into the spotlight when stories came out about young people renting partners for Chinese New Year to stop their parents from pressuring them to get married.

Of course any apps that connect people have the potential to facilitate illicit activities. Dating apps Momo and Tantan, China's answer to Tinder, have also both been accused of facilitating prostitution and pornography.

Even WeChat has had trouble ridding itself of porn. Last year, the social platform decided to completely remove a feature just to prevent people from sending smut and soliciting prostitutes.

For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.

Post