New Viber feature debuts globally with a safe dating experience for real people to make real connections

Sure, there are plenty of fish in the sea, but finding The One can be a long and winding journey. In today’s online dating world, it’s a minefield of scams and catfishing. What’s more, most dating apps keep you stuck in a loop of swipes that rarely go anywhere, because they make money as long as you use them — ouch!

It’s time to ditch this fishy business with Rakuten Viber. The super app trusted for fostering meaningful connections on a secure platform now offers Viber Dating, a new in-app feature that helps Filipinos meet real people and make real connections. Starting Valentine’s Day, Viber Dating is officially available in the Philippines, making Viber the first-ever communications app to offer an innovative and moderated dating solution. This gives Filipinos a safe and secure way to find their match or simply meet new friends, and then continue to build lasting relationships in the same app.

When it comes to online dating, many people are concerned about engaging in bots and fake profiles, or falling for scams —  and rightfully so. In a survey by Pew Research Center, only 48% of U.S. adults say that online dating is a very or somewhat safe way to meet people. In fact, 52% of those who have used dating sites and apps say they have come across someone they think was trying to scam them. The same is true for many Filipinos, as a 2024 report by global information solutions provider TransUnion has revealed that the digital fraud rate in Filipino dating platforms and other online communities is at 18%, which is much higher than the global average of 11.5%.

With Viber Dating, users can finally feel confident when looking for connections online, as protecting their users’ privacy has always been an essential and paramount part of Rakuten Viber’s mission from the start. This strict commitment is extended to Viber Dating by following stringent measures:

• Profile verification: Only verified Viber users can create profiles. Every Viber Dating user is real and registered with their mobile number.
• Hidden phone numbers: Your phone number remains completely hidden, ensuring that no personal contact information is ever shared during your dating experience unless you choose to share it.
• Moderation techniques include machine and human moderators, for a positive experience for all.
• Separate chats: Your dating profile is separate from your main Viber account, keeping your dating activity private from your primary connections.

As a trusted name in communication for over a decade, Viber has been facilitating secure and safe communication for new couples for years, especially during the second stage of dating—after they’ve met and moved away from using dating apps. Viber now fixes the first stage of dating too: enabling people to find meaningful connections. Unlike other dating apps, when you meet someone special through Viber Dating, you can smoothly transition to Viber’s main app, where you can keep the conversation going and continue building your connection in a secure and private space. Here, all private 1:1 chats and calls as well as private group calls are end-to-end encrypted by default, and messages are never stored in Viber’s servers once delivered.

Viber also understands that you may want to keep your dating life private. That’s why your dating profile will be strictly separate from your primary Viber account, and will only be visible to other Viber Dating users. Your main Viber connections will never know or be notified when you are signing up to and using the dating feature nor see your dating-related conversations and activities. Viber Dating is accessible in a separate tab from your Chats.

David Tse, Senior Director at Rakuten Viber APAC, shares that Viber Dating was developed after a series of focus groups with Viber users revealed that people want genuine connections with real people and high-quality matches, but were very concerned about keeping their identities private and under their control until they feel comfortable enough to reveal it. “Viber’s mission as a super app is to create safe and trusted connections, and this extends to the dating world, providing users with much-needed peace of mind,” says Tse. “Given these measures, we hope we can further protect our users from fake profiles and love scams.”

As a very first step, simply create a profile with your dating preferences — it’s totally free. You are encouraged to add photos and share a quick bio about yourself, including your hobbies and interests. After creating your profile, Viber shows you potential matches based on your preferences, and you can swipe left or right if you are interested or not. If both of you are interested in each other, you will be matched, and this unlocks the opportunity to chat only within the Viber Dating platform—again, separate from your regular private and group chats. To enhance the dating experience, premium features like Who Liked Me are already available in the Philippines. These features will roll out globally and be joined by more in the coming months.

“Viber has been built to create meaningful and secure connections for our users, and we’re excited to now extend this commitment to the world of dating. For many, online fraud has taken the joy out of meeting new people, while the frustration of being stuck with expensive apps that leave them feeling trapped and single continues to grow. As a super app, we are here to break this cycle and bring back the excitement of real connections with real people,” emphasizes Tse.

Finding genuine connections online doesn’t have to be a tale of endless trial and error. Date with confidence and peace of mind. Date Safer with Viber Dating on Rakuten Viber!

Sign up for Viber Dating now for free (https://vb.me/ViberDatingPH_CreateAProfile_PR). Viber Dating will be introduced in other countries soon.