Chinese singles are looking for love in video chats — with thousands following along in real time

Steve Chen had never been in love. Last spring though, it happened. The 25-year-old met his first girlfriend in a way he couldn't have imagined before: a livestreamed video chat.

Frustrated with traditional dating and using the apps, Chen jumped on a new trend among young, single people in China. Those looking for love go into video chatrooms hosted by what's called a “cyber matchmaker,” all while thousands of viewers watch and comment in real time.

The number of single people in China over 15 reached a record-high of 240 million in 2023, according to government data. Facing a plummeting birth rate and an aging population, the government encouraged single people to marry and have multiple children. Last year, the State Council, China's cabinet, mandated that local governments build various platforms for youth to have more opportunities to date.

“We should actively foster a new type of marriage and childbearing culture,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech in 2023, encouraging people to start families.

Shy and introverted, Chen found dating very hard. He used to describe himself as “mutai solo," Chinese slang for single since in the mother’s womb.

But those days are over.

In a livestreamed video chatroom, Chen fell in love.

It was hosted by Tian Xin, a cyber matchmaker who has livestreamed virtual group dates on Xiaohongshu — or RedNote, a Chinese social media app — for over a year.

By day, Tian works at a tech firm. At night, she transforms into a matchmaker who breaks the ice, cracks jokes, moderates conversations and sometimes offers relationship advice. Her account has over 130,000 followers.

“Empathy is the most important thing. You need to be empathetic to what people say," Tian told The Associated Press.

At 11 p.m. on a weeknight, over 800 viewers watched Tian’s video chatroom with background music of love-themed Chinese pop songs. Eight people were on camera, their faces arranged in a grid on the screen. Another dozen waited in a digital queue.

Tian started by asking each participant a similar set of questions: Age, weight, height, job, income, location, zodiac sign, hobbies and requirements for partners.

“Do you have a talent or skills to show us?” Tian asked one contestant, a PE teacher.

The man took off his shirt and flexed his biceps and six-pack abs. Mouths dropped open. Some clapped.

A new comment popped up in the chat with a series of laughing emojis: “Lol. Is dating so competitive these days?”

After the initial set of questions, participants chatted about their day-to-day lives and work as they went about their nightly routines — all on camera. One person washed off her makeup while another ate a late-night dinner of fried chicken.

As a medical student doing his residency, Chen said he had little free time to date. “The pressure of study and work is very strong. I don’t have time to socialize with people and make friends.”

Chen is not alone in feeling this way. Over 30% of young people who are single said it's because of their busy work schedules, according to a 2025 report from iiMedia Research, a Chinese data analysis agency. Many companies in China ask employees to work 12-hour days, six days a week. In response, there's a growing trend of " lying flat," or working as little as possible — and choosing to remain single — to resist societal pressures.

For those who want to get married though, the livestreamed videos are an appealing alternative to traditional matchmaking methods, like marriage markets — where families exchange resumes and arrange dates for their unmarried children.

They're also another option for those tired of dating apps.

Christine Zhang said the livestreamed videos are more fun and interactive than the apps.

“You can see more than just photos on profiles in livestreams. You can see how one person speaks and acts,” Zhang said.

She started regularly tuning into Tian’s livestream, where Chen — also a regular— caught her eye. He sometimes danced and sang in front of the camera.

In front of hundreds of viewers on the livestream, Zhang shared that she had a crush on him. Other participants, along with an audience of hundreds of followers, were impressed by her courage. The matchmaker introduced them and encouraged them to talk one-on-one off the livestream. They texted and met up in person several months later.

Nearly a year later, the two are in a serious relationship.

They both said they feel lucky to have met.

“Finding love is hard. I had to muster the courage to share my feelings in front of the camera,” Zhang said. “I think only those who are brave find love."

Tian Xin, a cyber matchmaker, hosts a livestream using the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu (RedNote) from Hangzhou, China, early Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Tian Xin, a cyber matchmaker, hosts a livestream using the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu (RedNote) from Hangzhou, China, early Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

FILE - A couple holds hands while crossing the street during a cold morning in Beijing, China on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

Tian Xin, a cyber matchmaker, hosts a livestream using the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu (RedNote) from Hangzhou, China, early Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Tian Xin, a cyber matchmaker, hosts a livestream using the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu (RedNote) from Hangzhou, China, early Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Tian Xin, a cyber matchmaker, hosts a livestream using the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu (RedNote) from Hangzhou, China, early Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)