Thread by @_bpst

After the third purge of #Chinese Apps including Dating ones, let's look at what 'Indian Romance' for next billion users really is 🧵 (1/n)

It has troubled me immensely that a lot of these now-banned products, that were being marketed as the solution for “Indian romance”, were voyeuristic and sleaze-filled.

The need for romance is real, but these solutions were never the way

(2/n)

As these products go off the market, we feel even more excited about what we have built at @_frndapp - it is built ground-up with a deep empathy towards the Indian user and her cultural sensibilities

(3/n)

FRND creates a safe environment to break ice between a boy & a girl with the help of a match-maker (FRND RJ). If they like each other they continue on a virtual date on the same platform

(4/n)

We have grown from 500 dates / day to 27,000 dates / day since launch with some immense user love

(5/n)

This has happened because we built something with a deep-understanding of the user

1. No pictures - Pseudonymous identities
2. Matchmaker (FRND-RJ): Community
3. Voice-first
4. Tech-first solutions to moderation and authenticity

Let us talk about each of these

(6/n)

Indian women in tier - 2, 3, 4, villages do not want to post pictures. Wonder why so many Facebook profiles have fake names and DP of Sky, Sunset....? 👇
buzzfeednews.com/article/pranav…

Solution-Psuedonymous, but verified identities
Result-No fake profiles & highly engaged women

(7/n)

Groups make it socially acceptable for boys and girls to have a date

After all, it's a 'FRND-ly' hangout
In a world of strangers, FRND RJs (Matchmakers) make the platform warm

99% of RJs have come from the initial user-base of FRND

(8/n)

Voice is more “natural” and makes it super-easy for the Indian internet users to express themselves. In 2020, it feels like a no-brainer

https://twitter.com/pacificleo/status/1309094530839347200?s=20

(9/n)

A sleaze-free community for romance is paramount! Tech ensures moderation and authenticity

1. Tools for matchmaker to ensure clean environment
2. ML to detect gender of a user through voice sample
3. Matching algorithm to determine 'What is a good match'

(10/n)

@FRND is Made in India, FOR India. That last phrase is important - We have built this “FOR India” using local recipes for ‘romance’ #vokalforlocal

(11/n)

Unlike a bunch of these banned apps who toy with the social fabric by serving sleaze as the ‘strategy’.
qz.com/india/1811151/…

We are proud to have built @_frndapp as a 100X better solution!

(12/n)

Lastly, as an Indian founder, I like to believe 🇮🇳

https://twitter.com/svembu/status/1304282878373629952?s=20

(n/n)