In China, young job seekers are facing high unemployment and a slow-growing economy, exacerbated by the aftermath of Covid-19 lockdowns. Unemployment rates for Chinese youth aged 16-24 hit 14.9% in December, spiking to 21.3% in June. In contrast, US youth unemployment in the same age range peaked at 7.4% in June, as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. To combat this situation, Chinese youth are using the US app Tinder via VPN (as the app is blocked due to the country's censorship policies) to expand their job search. They find the app advantageous due to its ease of connecting with people and discovering hidden or uncommon jobs, both domestically and internationally.
Some job seekers stated that using dating apps provides a quick way to obtain personal information and connect with a diverse range of individuals. However, this practice is controversial within traditional employment circles, with concerns that state-owned companies in China might blacklist applicants known to be using Tinder for job purposes. Notably, Tinder discourages the use of the app for job-seeking or career advancement, citing it as a violation of community guidelines.
The trend is not restricted to Chinese users, as some Americans have also turned to dating apps such as Grindr for networking purposes. Grindr has reported that 25% of its users engage in career networking as one of their primary activities.