In Pakistan, where arranged marriages are the norm, he says many women choose to stay anonymous, making online dating matches tricky.
Unlike in many countries where meeting online is routine, Pakistanis who use dating apps regularly face harassment and judgmental relatives — and now also have to contend with a government clampdown. Women users in particular fear possible retribution and often reveal little about themselves — using cartoons, avatars, or random pictures of nature instead of a profile photo.
The self-described conversationalist relies instead on humorous icebreakers with new matches to kick-start chats, and only asks for a picture if the potential date is comfortable and possibly up for meeting. In a country where sexual relations outside marriage, and homosexuality, are punishable with prison sentences, dating culture is unfamiliar. But she eventually deleted the app once business clients started trying to interact with her on it.
She says some of her friends who were willing to take the risk have found varying levels of success, but only after going on carefully planned dates. The ban leaves other apps like Minder and Bumble outside the dragnet, while savvy users like Shah have already resorted to using VPNs to bypass the prohibition for popular platforms like Tinder.
For the more traditionally inclined, life without dating apps will serve as a return to normality. But despite the potential pitfalls, some say finding love online is possible and a way to avoid arranged marriages. Published in Dawn, October 13th, Unlike other countries where meeting online is routine, Pakistanis who use dating apps face harassment and judgmental relatives. Updated 14 Oct, Popular Latest.
