Tencent, operator of China’s ubiquitous social network app WeChat, is ramping up its push into dating with a new Tinder-like app. Qingliao, meaning light chat in Chinese, is now allowing users to sign up when they request an invitation code on WeChat by submitting a photo and listing their occupation or school.
The new app works similarly to Tinder and Tantan, China’s biggest dating app, but without the swiping. Users have to tap a heart or an X to anonymously like or pass on other users. When two users like each other, they’re matched up and can start chatting. Qingliao’s description on China’s iOS App Store says that it offers “high quality socializing,” placing an emphasis on verifying users. People who submit an employee card or student ID along with their photo get preference for invitation codes.
Qingliao also only allows users to log in with either a WeChat or QQ account. And unlike Tinder and Tantan, Qingliao limits the total number of profiles users can see within a certain time period. Men are shown 15 profiles every 18 hours and women can see 22. While Tinder and Tantan limit the number of likes, Qingliao users see the same number of profiles whether they press like or dislike.
Qingliao follows close on the heels of another Tencent dating app unveiled earlier this month. The video-calling app named Maohu lets users put on filters and masks when they’re matched with other users in video chats. Chinese media reported that Tencent also has another social product in its pipeline -- a content sharing and social ecommerce site similar to Weibo’s Oasis and Xiaohongshu.