Thousands of Chinese individuals are seeking romance in live video chat sessions, with spectators tuning in concurrently.
Modern Love in the Digital Age: China's Livestreamed Video Chatroom Dating Sensation
When Steve Chen, a 25-year-old medical student, found himself single, he decided to venture into the uncharted territories of digital dating. Last spring, he stumbled upon a unique trend within China's vibrant single scene – livestreamed video chatrooms.
Frustrated with the conventional dating apps and the traditional concept of romance, the new trend among young, single Chinese people seemed too good to ignore. In these video chatrooms, a "cyber matchmaker" serves as a moderator, guiding conversations and offering relationship advice as thousands of viewers watch and comment in real time.
China's demographic landscape has witnessed a record-breaking 240 million single individuals over 15 years old in 2023, according to government data. To counteract the plummeting birth rate and an aging population, the government encouraged single people to marry and have multiple children. In the wake of the government's mandate, local authorities built numerous platforms for youth to date more effortlessly.
Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed the sentiments, stating in a speech in 2023 that they should encourage a new type of marriage and childbearing culture.
For introverted and shy individuals like Steve Chen, who struggled with traditional norms of dating, the livestreamed video chatrooms provided a safe haven. In one such session, he discovered love.
Tian Xin, a tech firm employee by day and a cyber matchmaker by night, hosted the livestream where Steve fell in love. With over 130,000 followers, Tian tackles the role of a matchmaker, breaking the ice, sharing jokes, and moderating conversations in a sincere and empathetic manner.
When the clock struck 11 p.m. on a weeknight, over 800 viewers tuned in to the video chatroom, their faces displayed in a grid on the screen. The session commenced with Tian asking standard questions about age, height, job, hobbies, and preferences for romantic partners.
Participants shared details about their day-to-day lives and work, all accomplished on camera. Some even engaged in activities like washing makeup or enjoying late-night meals – a stark deviation from the conventional setting of dates.
For Steve, the pressure of his demanding medical studies often left little time for socializing and dating. The format admittedly offered a sense of convenience that traditional dating could not.
This convenience is not lost on the majority. In a 2025 report, over 30% of young singles attributed their unmarried status to their busy work schedules. To evade societal pressures, a growing trend of "lying flat" – working as little as possible – and choosing to remain single, has surfaced in response to punishing work hours.
Nevertheless, the livestreamed videos represent a tempting alternative for those seeking companionship, offering a departure from traditional matchmaking methods like marriage markets – where families exchange resumes for their unmarried children – and dating apps.
The trend has proven particularly attractive for those who desire a more engaging and fun dating experience. Christine Zhang, who regularly tunes into Tian's livestream, found it more appealing than dating apps since it offers a platform to showcase one's personality rather than just relying on pictures.
In the digital arena, she spotted Steve, who often showcased his skills in dancing and singing. After confessing her feelings to him in front of hundreds of viewers during one of Tian's sessions, the two eventually started texting and meeting up in person. Nearly a year later, they share a serious, loving bond.
"I had to summon the courage to express my feelings in front of the camera," said Zhang. "I believe only those individuals who are brave succeed in finding love."
- Steve Chen, finding conventional dating apps and traditional romance unsatisfactory, was drawn to the novel trend of livestreamed video chatrooms among young, single Chinese people, where a tech-savvy matchmaker aids in establishing connections and fostering relationships in a digital, interactive setting.
- In the realm of technology and lifestyle, China's livestreamed video chatroom dating phenomenon offers an alternative to traditional matchmaking methods like marriage markets, catering to individuals seeking a more engaging and fun experience, as demonstrated by Christine Zhang, who found Steve, a skilled dancer and singer, through these platforms.
- Amidst the cultural shift encouraged by Chinese President Xi Jinping to embrace a new marriage and childbearing culture, livestreamed video chatrooms serve as a safe haven for introverted and shy individuals like Steve Chen, providing an opportunity to connect and form relationships in a less conventional, yet tech-driven setting, that perhaps, is more aligned with the lifestyles of the digital generation.
