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TOPIC

Dating

Dating
Articles, news and features on dating for millennials, covering dating apps, dating advice and dating tips.
Where does Hong Kong turn to when digital romance fails? More of the city’s bachelors and bachelorettes are trading algorithms for professional human matchmakers. Illustration: Henry Wong
Sex and relationships

Why dating in Hong Kong is so hard and how people spend thousands on agencies

Hong Kong matchmakers share how they’re helping people find love in a city where everyone is both extremely busy and wants a younger partner.

Trending in China

New China dating trend sees people refer exes to new prospects, like job referrals

Trending in China

China women pay for ‘companions’ in role-playing games, spark love debate

Wellness

New dating app is helping disabled and chronically ill people find love

Disabled and chronically ill people are often ghosted or rejected on mainstream dating apps. Dateability is evening the playing field.

Dateability now covers the US, Canada, Mexico and the UK, with about 40,000 registered users. It was recently updated to improve the look and functionality. Photo: info.dateabilityapp.com
Chinese overseas

Being Chinese | Looking for love in Shanghai, Chinese auntie-style

People’s Square is a ruthlessly efficient analogue of Tinder, run by elderly Chinese parents. I quickly learned about my own limits.

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Viral stories

Singapore woman rejects ‘rude’ date at hawker centre, sparks dating standards debate

Some critics label Naomi as ‘high maintenance’; she argues it is not about location, but ‘first impressions and effort’.

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Sex and relationships

How ‘Mountain Tinder’ is helping hikers find love away from dating apps

Notebooks atop mountains in Fribourg, Switzerland enable like-minded nature lovers to find each other in an analogue alternative to Tinder.

Cathy Rotzetter and Patrick, both 58, sit atop Wandflue peak in the Swiss canton of Fribourg. The couple found each other through “Mountain Tinder”. Photo: AFP
United States

Dating intel app for women suffers massive hack, exposing IDs

The ‘Tea’ app, which is designed to protect women from bad dates, has now exposed their identities following a major hack.

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Sex and relationships

Fed up with Tinder? How high-end matchmaking is making a comeback

Frustrated with dating apps like Tinder, more people are turning to elite matchmakers to find love – and paying big money to do so.

Chinese overseas

Being Chinese | Dating in the UK, Chinese auntie-style

Looking for a life partner as a 40-something Asian woman in the UK, I found success in unexpected ways.

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Newlyweds pose next to a red telephone booth in London on May 24. Dating today is not always about searching for a spouse, but for a compatible person to share life with. Photo: AFP
Sex and relationships

Can Tinder’s new Double Date feature bring back Gen Z users?

Dating app Tinder hopes to win back Gen Z users with a feature that makes it less ‘hook-uppy’ and more about having ‘a good time as friends’.

Tinder’s new Double Date feature allows users to create joint profiles with friends to match with other pairs. Photo: Tinder
Trending in China

Chinese man blames failed blind date on saggy T-shirt, claims looks like sleepwear

Rejected programmer says so-called heavyweight shirt was ‘thin’, ‘see-through’, made him look like he was unemployed.

Internet

The new dating trend in China? Live-streamed video chats

In China, busy young singles are meeting in group video chats hosted by a cyber matchmaker with others watching, and some are finding love.

Sex and relationships

Dating is a fraught affair in Iran, where tradition and modernity collide

In Iran, cultural shifts and societal pressures create challenges for young people eager to find a partner. To succeed they must break rules.

An Iranian couple walk together in a park in central Tehran. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images
China society

Video | Young Chinese women find virtual love in 'Deepspace'

A virtual character in the romantic mobile game has won over millions of young women in China and beyond

Young women in China find virtual romance in hit game 'Love and Deepspace'
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Malaysia

Malaysian man beaten, robbed of US$15,000 after dating app meet-up goes wrong

Police arrested five students behind multiple similar incidents in the country.

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Books and literature

Tired of superficial dating apps? Bookmark is an app for book lovers

The Bengaluru-based founders are connecting people based on shared literary interests, with features like a virtual bookshelf and witty prompts.

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Singapore

Bounty for love: Singapore woman offers S$2,000 if you can find her life partner

However, introductions will need to result in a committed relationship lasting at least six months before matchmakers can claim the reward.

Bella Dai, a 29-year-old Chinese woman living in Singapore, offered a S$2,000 bounty on social media to anybody who can introduce her to a life partner. Photos: Instagram / Bella Dai (@bellzdai)
TV shows and streaming video

Muslim Matchmaker creator on the appeal of reality TV dating shows

TV dating shows are not only captivating, but instructive for viewers seeking life partners, say a producer and a professional matchmaker.

Singapore

‘Boy sober’ and loving it: why Asia’s young women are swiping left on romance

More young women are opting out of traditional dating and marriage, prioritising career and personal freedom over societal expectations.

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Viral stories

Japan man starts dating agency after 2,000 failed blind dates due to low income

Despite numerous failed dates, man persists in dating to refine conversational skills, decision-making, date planning.

A Japanese man started a dating agency after 2,000 failed blind dates due to his low income and living with his parents. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/QQ.cm
Artificial intelligence

Opinion | For good or ill, AI is changing modern love

Millions of Chinese are downloading AI companions to feel connection but my time spent with one app shows even chatbots have character flaws.

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People are attracted to spending time with AI chatbots due to usability, uncertainty reduction and risk aversion. Photo: Shutterstock
Trending in China

Funny China ‘monkey men’ who make women laugh become popular dating type

As marriage rate continues to slump, matchmakers report surge in dating as women seek humorous men who help out with chores.

Sex and relationships

How you can find love and friends in 2025 without swiping

Run clubs, dining groups and friend-pitching nights are growing real-life alternatives to online dating apps, especially in Hong Kong.

China's population

Too busy for love in time of baby bust: Chinese students embrace being single

Fears expressed that heavier burdens stemming from a focus on finding a job and making money could add to China’s demographic crisis.

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Illustration: Brian Wang
Trending in China

Hong Kong woman rejected at mainland ‘matchmaking corner’ sparks funny debate

Matchmaking corners are events where mainland parents display posters with details about unmarried adult children to find partners.

A Hong Kong woman was rejected for her height at a mainland “matchmaking corner” sparking humorous debate about dating preferences. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/Xiaohongshu
Hong Kong society

Video | A new way to socialise: pitch a friend to strangers

The quirky social initiative gives Hongkongers the chance to introduce their friends to people seeking to make new connections

Viral stories

Japan man uses wig, props to create dating photos with imaginary girlfriend

Man notes that a natural photo features a shy smile, much like a bashful boyfriend being photographed by his girlfriend.

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