I don’t know, guys. Loneliness is real, and flirting online is fun, and maybe you don’t want anything serious, just the old back-and-forth with a looker you never have to take to dinner. And lots of people never meet up with the people they match and message with on various dating apps as it is (at least a third of online daters never do). So maybe there’s something to Phrendly, the app that says it’s designed to foster real relationships that are exclusively online for a small price.
Here’s how it works: Say you’re a man looking for women to only talk to. You browse a slew of candidates who’ve uploaded a picture (with options to chat, call, or video) and ranked themselves on qualities such as emotional stability and openness to experience (based off a personality test, which may not be that great for dating, but who cares if you’ll never be dating). Nina, 22, for instance, describes herself as a sweet lil loaf of bread, who considers herself controlled, stress free and sociable, enthusiastic.
Then you would show your interest in Nina by initiating a conversation with her. And after 10 back-and-forths, you’d buy her a virtual drink — which costs $10. According to the site’s director of product marketing, Melanie de Leon, that drink buys you 20 sips, and cash rewards are paid out via check or direct deposit to users’ bank accounts.
Yes, you read that right: It’s actual money you’re paying the woman to talk to you (or man, if the woman initiates and buys the drink). This is reminiscent of someone who asks a person out for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in real life; social convention dictates that person buys the drink, de Leon told MEL by email. By recognizing that a person’s time is valuable, Phrendly is able to keep people motivated and focused while keeping time-wasters and scammers at bay. No response? No charge. Читать далее
