https://www.scmp.com/rss/501970/feed Articles, news and features on dating for millennials, covering dating apps, dating advice and dating tips. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fran Lu Fran Lu Chinese jobseekers are now turning to dating apps to search for work, while some recruitment platforms have become places to connect for dates instead. The youth unemployment rate in China among the 16 to 24 age group, excluding students, has remained above 16 per cent since last July. Many young people express their frustration over the increasing challenges of finding a job. Some report applying for hundreds of positions daily but receiving only a few responses. In this landscape, some... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350222/why-china-jobseekers-use-dating-apps-work-recruitment-sites-matchmaking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350222/why-china-jobseekers-use-dating-apps-work-recruitment-sites-matchmaking?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese man who joined a matchmaking event while his wife had briefly gone to the bathroom, then claimed he was single, has sparked outrage online. On April 1, during “Auntie Wang’s Matchmaking” event in Bengbu, Anhui province, central China, a man who claimed to be single went on stage to find a partner was exposed on the spot. The event, which originally took place in Kaifeng, Henan province, also in central China, has attracted much attention on mainland social media. Those taking part are... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349278/public-outrage-chinese-man-takes-part-matchmaking-event-while-wife-goes-toilet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349278/public-outrage-chinese-man-takes-part-matchmaking-event-while-wife-goes-toilet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang China’s young city dwellers have embraced a quirky new dating trend known as “city work,” where couples enhance their romantic evenings by riding e-bikes and delivering takeaways. This innovative approach allows them to combat burnout while earning a little extra cash. Departing from the traditional “Beijing drifter” dating style characterised by lavish dinners, couples are now opting for a fun twist: delivering meals together after a long workday. For many, life has morphed into a monotonous... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347865/china-city-work-new-dating-trend-promotes-love-move-couples-earn-extra-cash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347865/china-city-work-new-dating-trend-promotes-love-move-couples-earn-extra-cash?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Can a dose of old-fashioned matchmaking sell a destination? Singapore’s tourism board is betting it might, inviting US-based singles to be paired by “aunties” for a chance to win a four-night trip in a campaign marketers see as an attempt to soften the city state’s reputation for efficiency and order with a touch of warmth and human connection. Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, Singaporean actress Tan Kheng Hua and astrologer-matchmaker Aliza Kelly have been chosen to front the “Aunties, Not Algorithms”... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3343791/singapore-aims-woo-us-singles-aunties-not-algorithms-matchmaking-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3343791/singapore-aims-woo-us-singles-aunties-not-algorithms-matchmaking-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A new type of partner is heading towards becoming the next big thing in China’s dating market – so-called hunter-style lovers. This does not mean they work as hunters or see their dates as prey, but instead bring their lovers “prey” in the form, for instance, of tasty snacks they receive at work or beautiful items they discover on the street. According to Chinese social media users, the value of the “prey” does not matter. Even a milk tea costing less than 20 yuan (US$3), or even a cost-free... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3343124/china-dating-scene-sees-rise-hunter-style-lovers-known-attentiveness-and-caring-nature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3343124/china-dating-scene-sees-rise-hunter-style-lovers-known-attentiveness-and-caring-nature?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang On a popular social media live-stream a young girl pours her heart out to a stranger. She is highly educated, comes from a wealthy family, but has fallen head over heels for a man 10 years her senior who is poor and does not love her. The live-streaming influencer, Taozai, responds not with sympathy, but with something far more jarring: “Not only do you have a ‘love brain’, you also subconsciously discriminate against people with lower education and the poor. You discriminate against others, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342385/rise-emotional-economy-china-love-brained-youth-seek-strangers-scolding-guidance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342385/rise-emotional-economy-china-love-brained-youth-seek-strangers-scolding-guidance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Doing something romantic for Valentine’s Day does not need to involve a heart-shaped box of chocolates, roses or an expensive dinner, according to relationship experts. In fact, therapists encourage couples craving intimacy and a deeper connection to focus less on grand gestures and more on expressing love with mundane acts that recognise what matters to their partner. Romance is not one size fits all. For some people, it means holding hands, opening a car door or running a bath for their lover.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3342897/how-keep-romance-alive-after-valentines-day-coffee-bed-funny-text?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3342897/how-keep-romance-alive-after-valentines-day-coffee-bed-funny-text?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:15:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A new Chinese dating reality show that features a group of single people aged about 50 has become a nationwide hit, sparking discussions about love and desire in the lives of the middle-aged and elderly. The show by tech giant Tencent’s WeTV, Forever by Your Side, was first aired in December 2025, and was branded as “mature singles braving the world of love”. It invites five men and five women around the age of 50 to travel together from Dali in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, a city known... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342370/why-young-china-viewers-are-increasingly-drawn-dating-shows-featuring-older-contestants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342370/why-young-china-viewers-are-increasingly-drawn-dating-shows-featuring-older-contestants?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu In Hong Kong, space is a luxury – and so is romance. For high-achieving professionals in one of the world’s most expensive cities, searching for “the one” is less a fairy-tale pursuit than an exhausting side hustle on top of their already gruelling schedules. Across the globe, singles are also now battling “dating app fatigue”. A Forbes Health Survey published in 2025 found that 78 per cent of dating app users feel burned out from fruitless cycles of swiping. Where does Hong Kong turn to when... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3342870/why-dating-hong-kong-so-hard-and-how-people-are-spending-thousands-agencies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3342870/why-dating-hong-kong-so-hard-and-how-people-are-spending-thousands-agencies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Young Chinese people have created a new dating trend called “ex-partner referrals” in which they treat former lovers like job candidates. The young people share detailed profiles, personal feedback and previous relationship “usage reports” with strangers online to help navigate the risks of modern dating. The trend reportedly began on social media after a viral post asked for an “internal referral” for a boyfriend. The viral post read: “Can any sisters refer me to their ex? I really do not... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342232/new-china-dating-trend-emerges-where-people-refer-exes-new-prospects-akin-job-referrals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342232/new-china-dating-trend-emerges-where-people-refer-exes-new-prospects-akin-job-referrals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang An orphan, trained as a cold-hearted assassin, learns what love truly means from a master thief. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, however, she kills her lover, granting him freedom as her final gift. Joyce, from Shenzhen in southern China, played this female killer in a script-killing game, and after a 10-hour plot unfolding, tears streamed down her face upon reaching this ending. She is one of many participating in the recently booming romantic script-killing games in China. In traditional... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3342530/china-women-pay-companions-role-playing-games-spark-love-commercialisation-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3342530/china-women-pay-companions-role-playing-games-spark-love-commercialisation-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press In her early twenties, Kaci LaFon lived in Branson, a tourist town in the US state of Missouri known for its older population. She wanted to date but found it a challenge, so – like many her age – she turned to dating apps. Over the course of five years, she would get a date here and there, but contact always petered out. “I tried and I failed,” she said. “There wasn’t really much I could do about it.” The issue in her eyes? LaFon, now 28, is chronically ill. She has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3336576/new-dating-app-dateability-helping-disabled-and-chronically-ill-people-find-love?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3336576/new-dating-app-dateability-helping-disabled-and-chronically-ill-people-find-love?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Shzr Ee Tan Shzr Ee Tan In a previous column, I outed my pre-pandemic dating life as a middle-aged newly single Chinese woman in the United Kingdom. Six months into my spreadsheet approach to love (100 daily Tinder swipes, 50 culls and a literacy-and-basic-human-decency filter), however, I decamped to China – on sabbatical, to research xiaolongbao, and for the anthropological thrill of being a shengnu (leftover woman) on home turf (sort of). China greeted me with a shrug. On Tinder and Baihe in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3330839/i-put-myself-shanghai-marriage-market-it-wasnt-pretty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3330839/i-put-myself-shanghai-marriage-market-it-wasnt-pretty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Singaporean influencer claimed she rejected a man because he suggested going to a hawker centre for their first date, sparking a debate about dating standards online. The woman, who has 38,000 followers on a social media platform, posted a screenshot of her conversation with the man, in which he proposed they meet at Lau Pa Sat, an open-air complex featuring affordable food vendors commonly found in Singapore. The woman, identified by her username @naomiblackk, expressed her offence in their... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3325329/singaporean-woman-rejects-rude-date-hawker-centre-sparks-dating-standards-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3325329/singaporean-woman-rejects-rude-date-hawker-centre-sparks-dating-standards-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Cathy and Patrick relish describing how they found each other: through a message left on a Swiss mountaintop. “It was just a beautiful way to meet,” said Cathy Rotzetter during a recent hike in the Pre-Alps of the western Swiss canton of Fribourg. Sick of online dating sites, the 58-year-old said she was thrilled to discover an analogue alternative with a Swiss twist: “Mountain Tinder”. In October 2024, she clambered up to the Wandflue peak, at an altitude of 2,133 metres (6,998ft), and jotted... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3320809/how-mountain-tinder-helping-hikers-find-love-away-dating-apps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3320809/how-mountain-tinder-helping-hikers-find-love-away-dating-apps?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An app called “Tea” that lets women share “red flags” or feedback about men they have dated has confirmed that hackers have accessed some 72,000 images including user IDs. A preliminary investigation indicated hackers had accessed early on Friday a “legacy” storage system holding images uploaded by users who signed up before February of last year, a Tea spokeswoman said. Stolen pictures included some 13,000 selfies or images featuring photo identification submitted to verify Tea accounts,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319678/dating-intel-app-women-tea-suffers-massive-hack-exposing-ids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319678/dating-intel-app-women-tea-suffers-massive-hack-exposing-ids?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 06:06:14 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Frustrated with dating apps, singles are shelling out for high-end matchmaking. “We had our biggest month of sales in the history of the company last month, and we’ve been around for 15 years,” says Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of the US-based matchmaking service Three Day Rule. “Our business is not shrinking.” He is not alone. Demand for personalised dating services is growing, according to companies interviewed, with clients citing “app fatigue” and a desire for meaningful connection as the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3317387/fed-tinder-how-elite-matchmaking-making-comeback-dating-apps-lose-favour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3317387/fed-tinder-how-elite-matchmaking-making-comeback-dating-apps-lose-favour?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:15:07 +0000 Shzr Ee Tan Shzr Ee Tan Just before the pandemic hit, I emerged from a 10-year relationship – newly single and stuck with half a mortgage, a Brompton bike bought on an impulse and a high-maintenance ginkgo tree. After giving myself four months to recover, I bounced back into the dating world, not necessarily looking for a husband (yeah, right) but to conduct what I told myself was an anthropological experiment. So yes, this is about dating. On Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, all while donning the armour of a Chinese diasporic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3315723/1-chinese-auntie-5-apps-60-first-dates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3315723/1-chinese-auntie-5-apps-60-first-dates?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 01:30:08 +0000 dpa dpa Tired of navigating the online dating landscape alone? Now you can swipe right along with friends. Dating app Tinder has launched a double-dating feature in the US, Europe and other markets, allowing users to create joint profiles with friends to match with other pairs. Double Date, as the feature is called, is the refined version of the failed 2016 product Tinder Social, which was discontinued in 2017 over privacy concerns and user confusion about its purpose. To activate Double Date, users... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3315479/can-tinders-new-double-date-feature-bring-back-gen-z-users-subscription-numbers-drop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3315479/can-tinders-new-double-date-feature-bring-back-gen-z-users-subscription-numbers-drop?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:45:07 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese man has reported a T-shirt manufacturer to the authorities after a failed blind date, claiming that the shirt was so saggy it looked like sleepwear, which he blamed for being rejected. The incident went viral on mainland social media, amusing many netizens and prompting the authorities to launch an investigation into the product’s quality. In mid-May, a man surnamed Wang, who works as a programmer, said that he had recently gone on a blind date wearing a T-shirt he had bought online... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3311979/chinese-man-blames-failed-blind-date-saggy-t-shirt-claims-looks-sleepwear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3311979/chinese-man-blames-failed-blind-date-saggy-t-shirt-claims-looks-sleepwear?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 08:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Steve Chen had never been in love. In spring 2024, though, it happened. The 25-year-old met his first girlfriend in a way he could not have imagined before: a live-streamed video chat. Frustrated with traditional dating and dating apps, Chen jumped on a new trend among young, single people in mainland China. Those looking for love go into video chat rooms hosted by what is called a “cyber matchmaker”, all while thousands of viewers watch and comment in real time. The number of single people in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3308364/chinese-singles-seek-love-live-video-chats-while-thousands-watch-and-comment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3308364/chinese-singles-seek-love-live-video-chats-while-thousands-watch-and-comment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:45:08 +0000 Modern dating, already fraught with emotional ups and downs, can feel even more difficult when a person is under pressure to find “the one”. In the religiously conservative Islamic Republic of Iran, finding Mr or Miss Right can be especially tough. Those seeking love often have to break the rules and take risks. Sahar, 35, remembers a time when women were afraid of everything, from the country’s morality police – who impose Islamic dress codes and public conduct – to their own families. “At some... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3305231/risks-dating-iran-and-how-its-done-coffee-shops-apps-or-flirting-car?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3305231/risks-dating-iran-and-how-its-done-coffee-shops-apps-or-flirting-car?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Apr 2025 08:15:08 +0000 A man was mugged after being duped by robbers via a gay dating app in Malaysia’s Selangor state. Serdang Assistant Commissioner AA Anbalagan said the victim, a 41-year-old hairstylist, had got to know the suspect via the app and had agreed to meet him at a house in Seri Kembangan. “On March 16, the victim then went to the house. After using the bathroom the victim was then approached by two unknown men. “Together with the main suspect, the three then tied up the victim before instructing him to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3303078/malaysian-man-loses-us15000-gay-dating-app-robbery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3303078/malaysian-man-loses-us15000-gay-dating-app-robbery?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Mar 2025 02:10:52 +0000 Shruti Sah met her partner, Harsh Snehanshu, on a regular dating app a few years ago. But what truly ignited the relationship was his interest in James Joyce’s Ulysses, her disdain for it and their shared love of books. The couple took to reading in public spaces and they were certain there was a larger, like-minded community of partner seekers. In January 2023, they set up Cubbon Reads, a silent reading community in Bengaluru’s most popular park, and six months later more than 70 such... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3302398/tired-superficial-dating-apps-bookmark-app-book-lovers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3302398/tired-superficial-dating-apps-bookmark-app-book-lovers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Mar 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Love may be priceless, but a Chinese woman in Singapore is offering S$2,000 (US$1,500) to anyone who can introduce her to a life partner. Chengdu-born Bella Dai, a Singapore permanent resident, shared the details of her bounty and dating criteria on her Instagram account (@bellzdai) in February. In her post, the 29-year-old wrote, “I am looking for a life partner that embodies the following qualities”, listing criteria such as being a straight, Singapore-based man aged 25 to 42; possessing a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3301293/bounty-love-singapore-woman-offers-s2000-if-you-can-find-her-life-partner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3301293/bounty-love-singapore-woman-offers-s2000-if-you-can-find-her-life-partner?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:03:46 +0000 The story of Muslim Matchmaker began as many modern tales of romance do: with an unsolicited direct message. Smriti Mundhra, the executive producer of the Netflix show Indian Matchmaking, has spearheaded another series about the art of matchmaking, this time focusing on the Muslim American community. After pitching the idea to the show’s eventual stars, matchmakers Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady, on Instagram several years ago, Mundhra began the long process of developing the series, eventually... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3300310/indian-matchmaking-creator-such-shows-voyeuristic-appeal-and-why-they-feel-real?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3300310/indian-matchmaking-creator-such-shows-voyeuristic-appeal-and-why-they-feel-real?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Mar 2025 08:15:08 +0000 For years, young Singaporean women have followed a familiar life script: study hard, date sensibly, apply for public housing, marry and have children. But a growing number of women in the city state are choosing to rewrite this narrative. Take Candace*, a 30-year-old globetrotter whose work can take her anywhere from the quaint streets of Berlin to bustling Hong Kong. For her, dating has taken a back seat. “I like the freedom to leave anytime I want and do anything I want,” said the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3298755/why-asias-young-women-are-going-boy-sober-and-swiping-left-romance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3298755/why-asias-young-women-are-going-boy-sober-and-swiping-left-romance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Feb 2025 09:00:07 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A man in Japan established a dating agency to help others in navigating the complexities of love after experiencing 2,000 unsuccessful blind dates, a struggle exacerbated by a low income and living with his parents. Identified only as Yoshio, a 44-year-old resident of Shizuoka prefecture, he holds a master’s degree in science from a Japanese university. Eight years ago, Yoshio began his quest for a partner and joined several matchmaking agencies. However, after four years and nearly 2,000 failed... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3298142/japan-man-starts-dating-agency-after-2000-failed-blind-dates-due-low-income-living-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3298142/japan-man-starts-dating-agency-after-2000-failed-blind-dates-due-low-income-living-home?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Feb 2025 01:00:08 +0000 I was out dining with friends around 7pm one night. All of a sudden, my phone started blowing up with dozens of messages from different people. One read, “I have talked with you for two hours. I miss you.” Another asks, “Do you want to go for a walk in the park?” A third one offered to bring me dinner. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not some master of relationships who can juggle multiple men at once. These are all “AI lovers” from a software I have been playing with. In recent weeks, I’ve been... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3294643/good-or-ill-ai-changing-modern-love?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3294643/good-or-ill-ai-changing-modern-love?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jan 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The number of marriages in China has decreased again, with 4.747 million marriages recorded in the first three quarters of 2024, a drop of 16.6 per cent year on year. But according to the Chinese matchmaking website Jiayuan, the dating market remains strong as younger generations were more open to that culture. Among potential dates, a new “monkey-type man” has become a hot pick. The definition first appeared on mainland social media describing male celebrities with fit bodies and big eyes like... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3293159/funny-china-monkey-men-who-make-women-laugh-become-popular-dating-type?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3293159/funny-china-monkey-men-who-make-women-laugh-become-popular-dating-type?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jan 2025 01:00:07 +0000 For the past decade, mobile dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Coffee Meets Bagel – all launched between 2012 and 2014 – have reshaped the dating scene, readily presenting available singles at one’s fingertips. According to a survey on dating apps conducted by online market research company Rakuten Insight in October 2024, over half of the respondents in Hong Kong said they used such platforms at least once a week, with Tinder being the most popular. Even though meeting someone online is no... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3293904/how-find-love-and-friends-2025-without-tinder-bumble-and-other-dating-apps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3293904/how-find-love-and-friends-2025-without-tinder-bumble-and-other-dating-apps?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jan 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Buried under a mountain of responsibilities, Owen Cao, a first-year graduate student at a university in northern China, finds himself juggling research, coursework, study sessions, tasks assigned by his supervisor, student club activities and his personal hobbies. Amid all those commitments, the 22-year-old ocean engineering student finds little to no time for dating. He said he was fine with being single “right now” and was not actively looking for a relationship, “but if I meet the right... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3292565/too-busy-love-time-baby-bust-chinese-university-students-embrace-being-single?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3292565/too-busy-love-time-baby-bust-chinese-university-students-embrace-being-single?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:00:25 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Hong Kong woman shared her disappointing experience at a “matchmaking corner” in southern China, where she faced rejection due to her age and height of only 154cm, igniting ridicule and humorous debate among mainland netizens. The woman, known online as “Daily Life of the Slightly Plump Xiangxiang”, was born in the 1990s and identifies as a fashion blogger with over 70,000 followers on Xiaohongshu. Although based in Hong Kong, she originally hails from Chaozhou, a city in southern Guangdong... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3290756/hong-kong-woman-rejected-height-mainland-matchmaking-corner-sparks-humorous-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3290756/hong-kong-woman-rejected-height-mainland-matchmaking-corner-sparks-humorous-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Dec 2024 01:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A man in Japan ingeniously used a selfie stick, a wig, and various props, along with his right hand, to craft realistic dating photos featuring an imaginary girlfriend, delighting many on social media. Keisuke Jinushi, 39, is a talented photographer and writer for Japan’s whimsical website Daily Portal Z. Reports indicate that he is a graduate of Musashino Art University, where he earned a degree in film and visual arts, and has remained single throughout his adult life. Jinushi revealed that... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3289319/japan-man-uses-wig-props-create-dating-photos-imaginary-girlfriend-amuses-many?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3289319/japan-man-uses-wig-props-create-dating-photos-imaginary-girlfriend-amuses-many?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Dec 2024 01:00:09 +0000 Celebs – they’re just like us! You’d think that the rich and famous would have no shortage of dating options, but some stars looking for love end up turning to dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge and Grindr. Dating is already hard, but when you’re famous it can be even more challenging, as these celebrities found out. For years, online romance fraudsters have impersonated celebrities and targeted fans with dating scams. They typically look for fans online, then forge a relationship through a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3287690/which-celebrities-have-tried-dating-apps-stars-such-drew-barrymore-zac-efron-zayn-malik-and-sam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3287690/which-celebrities-have-tried-dating-apps-stars-such-drew-barrymore-zac-efron-zayn-malik-and-sam?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:00:08 +0000 A code of conduct will be enforced on the online dating industry to better protect Australian users after research found that three-in-four people suffer some form of sexual violence through the platforms, Australia’s government said on Tuesday. Bumble, Grindr and Match Group Inc., a Texas-based company that owns platforms including Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid and Plenty of Fish, have agreed to the code that took effect on Tuesday, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said. The platforms, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3280707/australia-adopts-code-conduct-dating-apps-keep-tinder-bumble-grindr-users-safer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3280707/australia-adopts-code-conduct-dating-apps-keep-tinder-bumble-grindr-users-safer?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:26:32 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang The time-consuming pressures of work and family responsibilities has sparked a trend among China’s young adults of buying emotional connections from street vendors. A section of young women are willing to sell such services, making them easily accessible and cheap to buy. In April last year, Southern Weekly first reported on the “street girlfriend” phenomenon across the country, but it gained scant online attention, receiving fewer than 1,000 likes on Weibo. Recently, mainland internet users... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3271980/china-sees-growth-strictly-no-sex-street-girlfriends-who-sell-their-wares-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3271980/china-sees-growth-strictly-no-sex-street-girlfriends-who-sell-their-wares-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Jul 2024 01:00:10 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Qu Qu is one of China’s most controversial internet celebrities and reportedly earns 142 million yuan (US$19 million) a year dishing out dating and financial advice. Using the online alias “Ququ Big Woman”, her real name is Le Chuanqu and she has gone from singer to relationship influencer. In August last year, she captured attention with a live-stream in which a young woman sought advice on choosing between her wealthy boyfriend and a wealthy admirer. The woman explained that her current... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269739/banned-china-love-guru-teaches-women-how-marry-rich-makes-us19-million-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269739/banned-china-love-guru-teaches-women-how-marry-rich-makes-us19-million-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jul 2024 10:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A woman said online that her recent blind date proposed splitting the dinner bill based on the number of meat slices each ate during a hotpot meal, sparking a widespread conversation about the state of modern dating in China. The woman, who was not identified, shared on a recent Xiaohongshu post that, after the meal, which ended at around 11pm, her date proposed that the two go out for a drink. The woman, feeling it was too late, denied the invitation. She said the man’s demeanour changed after... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3268629/china-woman-stunned-when-date-wants-bill-split-down-number-slices-meat-she-had?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3268629/china-woman-stunned-when-date-wants-bill-split-down-number-slices-meat-she-had?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jul 2024 01:00:27 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A new scent-based system of dating has emerged in South Korea in which young people meet in “dark cafes” to avoid seeing each other. The meet-up trend aims to trigger primal instincts rather than rely on physical appearance. So, what lies behind this strange dating method which is growing in popularity. How does it work? The need to upload selfies or engage in pre-meet chats on dating apps is dispensed with. Preferences are entered into an app that uses AI techniques to make matches. This... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3267107/dark-cafes-scent-based-dating-booms-south-korea-people-turn-primal-instincts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3267107/dark-cafes-scent-based-dating-booms-south-korea-people-turn-primal-instincts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jun 2024 01:00:11 +0000 With South Korea facing a demographic crisis due to having the lowest birth rate in the world, one district in the city of Busan has decided to tackle the challenge by offering cash for couples just to date and even more money if they get married. The government of Saha District, located in the western part of South Korea’s second-largest city, recently passed a revised budget to fund a matchmaking programme that will encourage local ladies and gentlemen to meet with the aim of starting a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3268296/cash-romance-south-korean-district-offers-money-couples-date-and-marry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3268296/cash-romance-south-korean-district-offers-money-couples-date-and-marry?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:46:35 +0000 Raising Hope actress Bijou Phillips has moved on since filing for divorce from Danny Masterson, who is currently serving his jail sentence after being found guilty of raping two women. Per People, Phillips is now dating businessman Jamie Mazur, with the pair recently seen taking a walk in New York City’s Central Park. A source told the publication that they’ve been “dating for a couple of months now” and that Mazur has “added a spark to her life”. Here’s what we know about Phillips’ new... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3267203/who-bijou-phillips-new-boyfriend-jamie-mazur-after-leaving-convicted-criminal-danny-masterson-she?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3267203/who-bijou-phillips-new-boyfriend-jamie-mazur-after-leaving-convicted-criminal-danny-masterson-she?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Jun 2024 10:00:12 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Rapidly rising numbers of romance-seeking people across China and worldwide are making use of artificial intelligence (AI) love coaches as they struggle in the dating game. According to a 2023 survey of just over 2,000 single young people, carried out by the China Youth Daily Social Survey Center, the three major dating difficulties young people face are having a fixed social circle, being indoors type, and a lack of social skills. AI love coaches provide advice ranging from how to reply to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264654/ai-love-coach-millions-romance-seekers-download-apps-help-relationship-faux-pas-master-sweet-talking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264654/ai-love-coach-millions-romance-seekers-download-apps-help-relationship-faux-pas-master-sweet-talking?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Jun 2024 10:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Young adults in China are hosting matchmaking events for their pets, a practice which has been described, tongue-in-cheek, as a bid to release the pressure they are under to get married. The trend has even morphed into a new form of social interaction among the younger generation. One such event that took place on May 25, was called “If You Are the Cute One,” and attracted significant online attention, Star Video reported. The idea was inspired by the Chinese television dating show, “If You Are... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264502/date-my-cat-china-youth-host-matchmaking-events-pets-relieve-stress-pressure-get-married?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264502/date-my-cat-china-youth-host-matchmaking-events-pets-relieve-stress-pressure-get-married?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2024 01:12:39 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A renowned psychologist in China has advised young adults to date more, and warned that a “hook-up” culture cannot replace romantic relationships. On May 20, Chi Yukai, a psychologist from South China Normal University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province in the south of the country, delved into the attitudes of young people towards relationships in an interview with the mainland media outlet Phoenix News. Chi said that the 18 to 25-year-old demographic – generally referred to as Generation Z – is... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264342/top-professor-urges-china-youth-date-more-says-hook-culture-cannot-replace-authentic-love?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264342/top-professor-urges-china-youth-date-more-says-hook-culture-cannot-replace-authentic-love?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jun 2024 06:10:08 +0000 Content creator Candice Gallagher was scrolling through her social media timeline when she chanced upon a singles mixer in New York that used an algorithm to match people together at the event. The British expatriate, who has lived in Singapore since January 2019 and goes by the user @candi.licious on TikTok, reached out to the organisers and licensed the technology to run her version of the mixer in Singapore. The event, which she called SinglePore, saw almost 3,000 people sign up in just a few... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3264951/more-singapore-singles-seek-meaningful-connections-dating-events-and-shun-matchmaking-apps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3264951/more-singapore-singles-seek-meaningful-connections-dating-events-and-shun-matchmaking-apps?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Jun 2024 01:00:19 +0000 Camila Cabello has been sharing intimate details about her love life in recent days, revealing that she lost her virginity to her first real boyfriend – relationship guru Matthew Hussey – when she was 20 years old. The now 27-year-old “Havana” singer opened up about the moment on the latest episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, as reported by People. “That was my first time having sex. First lovemaking was at 20, 21. … It was literally lovemaking. It was beautiful,” she said. “He... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3263969/who-camila-cabellos-first-love-matthew-hussey-havana-singer-just-admitted-losing-her-virginity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3263969/who-camila-cabellos-first-love-matthew-hussey-havana-singer-just-admitted-losing-her-virginity?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 May 2024 11:00:17 +0000 Two hosts at a public matchmaking event in eastern China encouraged a man to partner with an unmarried woman who was three months pregnant, shocking onlookers and prompting significant backlash online. The bizarre incident happened on May 2 at an “Auntie Wang’s Matchmaking” event in Bozhou, Anhui province, after the woman had received interest from the man before revealing her pregnancy. “Auntie Wang” events are a Chinese dating trend in which single people stand on a stage and publicly announce... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3262811/you-shouldnt-mind-china-matchmakers-pressure-man-date-unmarried-pregnant-woman-singles-event-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3262811/you-shouldnt-mind-china-matchmakers-pressure-man-date-unmarried-pregnant-woman-singles-event-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 May 2024 06:00:13 +0000 Sima Taparia, the star of breakout Netflix series Indian Matchmaking, is so famous in Mumbai, India, that she appears on a series of official stamps released on May 2. The reality series, which follows modern matchmaker Sima Auntie – as she is also known – as she works, provides insight into the everyday lives of India’s youth. It has been nominated for a Hollywood Critics Association Television Award and two Emmys, and she appeared on Elite Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Indians list in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3262605/indian-matchmaking-queen-sima-auntie-being-stamp-her-own-marriage-and-getting-stopped-50-times-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3262605/indian-matchmaking-queen-sima-auntie-being-stamp-her-own-marriage-and-getting-stopped-50-times-day?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 May 2024 03:15:15 +0000 Increasing numbers of young people in Japan are adopting a new type of marital relationship that requires neither love nor sex, in a trend called “friendship marriage”. Around one per cent of Japan’s population of 124 million are possible candidates for the arrangement. They include asexual individuals, homosexuals, and heterosexuals who are disillusioned with traditional marriage. The figures come from data collected by Colorus, an agency that claims to be the first and only one in Japan that... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3260278/what-friendship-marriage-pals-platonic-partners-japanese-couples-embrace-unions-without-romance-or?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3260278/what-friendship-marriage-pals-platonic-partners-japanese-couples-embrace-unions-without-romance-or?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 May 2024 01:00:30 +0000