Your messaging app just got flirtier
For Filipinos seeking out new romantic connections, online dating has become a convenient and efficient tool. It offers more chances of finding a match compared to relying on introductions from family members and friends.
In an August 2024 survey conducted here by the market research firm Rakuten Insight, Tinder emerged as the most used dating app across ages, and Dating.com as the top choice of respondents 55 years and older. The survey also showed that 40 percent of the respondents use dating apps to meet people outside their social circles.
But dating app users are also concerned about privacy, safety, and quality matches. This is according to a more detailed survey made for the Philippine office of Rakuten Viber, a voice-over internet protocol and instant messaging app that, like Rakuten Insight, belongs to the Japanese multinational company Rakuten Group Inc.
Such concerns are addressed in the messaging app’s new dating feature, said its chief executive officer, Ofir Eyal. He recently flew in from his home base in Tel Aviv, Israel, to lead the Asian launch of Viber Dating last Feb. 14.
As explained by Eyal to Lifestyle, the dating feature is integrated into the app. This means Viber users don’t need to download a separate dating app to access its latest offering.
To get started, you just have to look for the dating feature in the messaging app’s menu and create a dating profile. You will be asked about your personal details and preferences for a match, including their height and if they smoke or not.
Your dating profile is strictly separate from your main account. It can only be seen by other Viber Dating users and not by anybody in your contact list. So, your dating chats remain private.
Verified users
You can go low-key in finding a match as you’ll be doing it within the Viber app and only its icon is displayed on your mobile phone screen. On the other hand, having a recognizable dating app icon on your screen is a dead giveaway that you’re into online dating.
If a notification from Viber Dating pops up on your screen to tell you that you got a like, match, or message, it will sound and appear just like a regular app alert. You won’t feel too conscious about it compared to getting a similar notification from a known dating app while you’re with a friend or a relative who always asks about your dating status. You may not be in the mood to be teased as you’re still hoping that the online match will turn into a relationship in real life.
As for your safety from engaging with bots and fake profiles, Eyal assured that Viber Dating users are verified, with phone numbers kept hidden and protected.
Eyal maintained that adding a dating feature is in line with the company’s mission to make Viber a “super app” that can help users manage their daily lives.
“We saw people already use the app to communicate if they’re in a relationship or within their family or with their kids,” he pointed out. “So dating is just taking one step before they actually meet. It’s not in our business model to keep you single.”
More chances for matches
Eyal clarified that just like the app itself, Viber Dating is free of charge, except for add-ons that tell users, for instance, who liked them. It doesn’t target a specific age group but only accepts those who are 18 years old and above.
He also noted that the dating feature so far has an almost equal number of male and female users, which helps in attaining the current 80-percent match rate. The numbers are expected to rise as the Philippines is one of the messaging app’s strongest markets worldwide. Viber has been available here for a year or two since its inception in 2010.
His tips on making the most of online dating: “First, be open and honest. Give information you’re comfortable with. But don’t give out private information like your ID number or password, of course.”
He explained, “The more you share about yourself, the more likely you are to get matches. Because people want anchors. Like we said, people want to see your height, if you’re smoking or not, if you like pets, if you live alone, if you live with roommates. Try to share as much as possible about yourself.”
Additionally, “Try to give a good photo of yourself, not something where your face is hidden. Sometimes people would put a photo with their friends and [users] can’t tell which one you are because there are five people there.
“So put the photo of yourself alone, preferably. It should be your best photo, and it should be somewhat recent.”
Eyal said Viber Dating is envisioned to include artificial intelligence features that will help users with conversation starters. If a match is made between cinephiles, for instance, the app can suggest for them to talk about the latest movie release. This will hopefully lead to forming a meaningful relationship and—who knows—their happy ever after.
