The founders of matchmaking platforms Dateworks and Lunch Actually on the nuances of the dating scene, especially during a lockdown
A recent report by The Nikkei Asian Review revealed that Malaysians spent approximately US$5.8mil (RM25mil) on dating apps in 2019, based on data from analytics company App Annie. One wonders what that figure will be like this year in the wake of the global Covid-19 health crisis.
Even so, popular apps like Tinder, Coffee Meets Bagel and China's Tantan aren't resting on their laurels.
Tinder, for instance, announced in March 2020 that it would be making its Passport feature free for all members, allowing them to swipe to connect with users around the world in an effort to curb feelings of isolation.
Related: This Recently Married Couple Met On Coffee Meets Bagel
While the digital players of the matchmaking scene have their work cut out for them in 2020, it is the offline matchmaking services that have had to quickly adapt and diversify their business models to stay afloat while under partial lockdown.
"At the start of the MCO, I was reluctant to bring our dating platform online," says Joanne Ng, founder of Dateworks, a matchmaking agency that caters mostly to working professionals. "But we knew we had to change and adapt to the new norm."
In response to the MCO, Dateworks Virtual Dates was launched, letting singles connect with each other digitally through personalised matching by a certified Dateworks matchmaker.
Dateworks clients are matched with one another based on personal preferences and personality traits. Having a virtual date moderated by a Dateworks expert also adds a layer of security and safety to the overall experience.
"As everyone settles into the norm of virtual meetings and hangouts, we were pleased to find that our clients – even those who initially found it uncomfortable to meet people prior to MCO – are opening up to a new way of meeting new people," notes Ng.
So do virtual dates ease some of the pressure and effort of face-to-face meet-ups?
Violet Lim, CEO and co-founder of matchmaking platform Lunch Actually, agrees that they do, but adds a word of caution for a more successful online date.
More: 5 Singles On Digital Dating, Dreadful Dates & 'Why Are You Single' Questions