Parship and ElitePartner launch Corona-compliant communication feature

The coronavirus pandemic has put the whole world in an absolutely exceptional situation. In many places, people's everyday lives are determined by lockdown restrictions, and singles looking for a partner are particularly affected. With Video-Date, users of Parship and ElitePartner can get to know each other beyond messages without having to exchange private contact details. This is a feature developed at short notice for 1:1 video communication.

"Basically, you can take your time when getting to know someone online," says Parship psychologist Dania Schiftan. "But regardless of the initial restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's not advisable to get stuck in written form for too long, as you could create a fantasy image of the other person that a normal person can hardly fulfill. That's why I recommend communicating via audio and video after a certain period of time to find out even more about a person."

Get to know each other informally

In a recent survey, around a third of Parship and ElitePartner members said that they are now increasingly using video calls to keep in touch with friends and family. Around one in three ElitePartner members have already tried video dating via Facetime, WhatsApp & Co. A further 21 percent find it an interesting way of getting to know each other.

When asked about the general conditions of a video date, 67% are primarily interested in getting to know each other casually. However, around a quarter can also imagine having a coffee (23%) or a glass of wine/beer (29%) together. On the other hand, only very few (8% and 6% respectively) could imagine having a meal or cooking together. Most of the singles surveyed would get dressed up as if for a real date (men 60%, women 65%). Tidying up and providing an appealing backdrop is more likely to concern men (men 53%, women 39%).

Virtual date in the usual safe environment 

This visual form of online communication is currently the best alternative for getting to know a potentially suitable partner for the first time: hearing the other person's voice, seeing gestures and facial expressions, gaining a first impression of the other person's personality, laughing together - all of this can also be experienced digitally. Singles continue to move within the familiar environment of their Parship or ElitePartner app. There is no need to exchange private contact details or switch to third-party platforms for video calls.

"Even if it can't completely replace a real face-to-face meeting, video dating is a good way to get to know each other without physical contact," says Martin Dobner, Senior Director International at Parship and ElitePartner.

Dania Schiftan also sees many advantages in this contact option: "The video date is an uncomplicated and safe way to get to know the other person better: observing body language and reactions to certain statements can be very revealing. This type of dating also suits singles who are shy or perhaps find it difficult to approach a date in a relaxed manner or break it off if they see that it's not right for them."