Beijing's Chaoyang District Launches Nonprofit Online Dating Service for Senior Citizens

Beijing's Chaoyang District Launches a Nonprofit Online Dating Service for Senior Citizens

In an effort to help singles in their golden years find love, the Chaoyang District government of Beijing-a well-known administrative division in China's capital city-has launched its own online dating platform. The service ms specifically at locals aged over 50 or 60.

According to a report by 'The Beijing News', this initiative is part of an effort by public servants within the district to tackle loneliness among older citizens who often fall victim to matchmaking scams. Contrary to popular Chinese dating apps like Tantan a local version of Tinder, Blued, and Momo which offer livestreaming features and location-based services, Chaoyang's online platform is more traditional with a focus on personal ads.

To use the service, users have to follow 'Chaoyang E-Love' on WeChat and register their official ID numbers. A team of staff members then carefully verifies each user's identity by checking household registration documents to ensure they're genuinely single. If interested parties wish to contact potential matches beyond basic information, they must first reach out through the platform.

Zhang Ying, a professional matchmaker based in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, observed that while this initiative might be well-intentioned, it may not entirely meet modern dating needs. She noted how societal attitudes towards marriage are rapidly evolving alongside China's growing economy. For instance, wealthy men in their sixties now often seek partners who are at least twenty years younger than them.

Local neighborhood 'aunties' running these matchmaking services might still adhere to traditional 1990s thinking, Zhang explned. This could potentially mislead wealthy older men into settling down agnst their will.

The digital age has brought about significant changes in the way matchmaking is conducted in China, but it also presents new challenges such as internet scams and policing public morality. In September of last year, following a tragic case where a tech entrepreneur took his own life linked to marriage fraud allegations, China's Ministry of Civil Affrs ordered dating websites to keep records of users' real identities.

And just recently, over 600 individuals were arrested for selling explicit content under the guise of dating apps. Phone sex and room-sharing apps have also been targeted in crackdowns due to their vulgarity.

Editor: Qian Jinghua.

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