Steve Chen had never been in love. However, last spring, it happened. At 25, he met his first girlfriend in a way that he would never have imagined before: through a live video chat.
Frustrated with traditional appointments and the use of applications, Chen joined a new trend among single young people in China. Those who seek love enter into video chat rooms organized by what is known as “married cybernetic”, all while thousands of spectators observe and comment in real time.
The number of single people in China over 15 years of age reached a record of 240 million in 2023, according to government data. Before an increasingly lower birth rate and an aging population, the government encouraged single people to marry and have several children. Last year, the State Council, which is the Chinese cabinet, ordered that local governments build various platforms so that young people had more opportunities to know possible couple.
“We must actively encourage a new type of marriage and procreation culture,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a speech in 2023, encouraging people to form families.
Shy and introverted, Cen was very difficult to go out in quotes. He used to describe himself as “mutai alone”, a term of Chinese slang to refer to being single from the womb.
But those days have been left behind.
In a live video chat room, Chen fell in love.
It was organized by Tian Xin, a married cybernetic that has broadcast live virtual group quotes in Xiaohongshu – or Rednote, a Chinese social networks application – for more than a year.
during the day, Tian works in a technology company. At night, it transforms into a casuemera that breaks the ice, jokes, moderates conversations and sometimes offers relationships about relationships. His account has more than 130,000 followers.
“Empathy is the most important thing. You need to be empathic with what people say,” Tian told The Associated Press.
At 11 at night, one day during the week, more than 800 spectators saw the Tian video chat room with Chinese pop back music with love theme. Eight people were on camera, and their faces appeared on a grid on the screen. There was another dozen waiting in a digital row.
Tian began asking each participant a similar set of questions: age, weight, height, work, income, location, zodiac sign, hobbies and requirements for couples.
“Do you have any talent or ability to show us?” Tian asked a contestant, a physical education teacher.
The man removed his shirt and flexed his biceps and his marked abdominals. Many were speechless. Some applauded.
A new comment appeared in the chat with a series of emojis of laughter: “Haha. Is the appointments so competitive today?”
After the initial set of questions, the participants chatted about their daily lives and their work while doing their night routines, all in camera. One person took away the makeup while another died fried chicken.
Chen, a medical student who performs his residence, said he had little free time to go out in quotes. “The study of the study and work is very strong. I don’t have time to socialize with people and make friends.”
Chen is not the only one who feels like that. More than 30% of young single ones said that this is due to their tight job agendas, according to a 2025 Iimedia Research report, a Chinese data analysis agency. Many Chinese companies ask that their employees work 12 hours a day, six days a week. In response, there is the growing tendency to “lie”, or work as little as possible, and choose to remain single to resist social pressures.
However, for those who wish to marry, live videos are an attractive alternative to traditional pairing methods, such as marriage markets, where families exchange curriculums and organize appointments for their single children.
They are also another option for those who are tired of dating applications.
Christine Zhang said live videos are more fun and interactive than applications.
“In live broadcasts, you can see more than just photos in profiles. You can see how a person speaks and acts,” said Zhang.
He began to regularly tune Tian’s live broadcasts, where Chen – who also usually tune in – caught his attention. Sometimes he danced and sang in front of the camera.
Faced with hundreds of spectators in live broadcast, Zhang said he was attracted to him. Other participants, along with an audience of hundreds of followers, were impressed by their courage. The casuemera presented them and encouraged them to speak between them outside the live broadcast. Text messages were sent and found in person several months later.
Almost a year later, both are in a serious relationship.
They said they felt lucky to have met.
“It’s hard to find love. I had to gather the courage to share my feelings in front of the camera,” Zhang said. “I think only the brave find love.”
