BBC – China faces a gender imbalance with 30M more men than women, making dating particularly difficult for working-class men. The Dating Game, a documentary by Violet Du Feng, follows three men attending a dating camp led by coach Hao, who helps them craft online profiles and approach women using WeChat, China's dominant messaging platform often used for dating. The film sheds light on the broader impact of the one-child policy and economic inequality on romantic prospects. It also explores a growing digital trend: virtual boyfriends and dating simulation games, now used by ~10M women in China. These apps provide emotionally responsive, idealized male partners without the time, cost, or stress of real-life relationships.
by Helen Bushby
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