A new app called Invisible Boyfriend and Invisible Girlfriend, respectively, allows you to create an imaginary lover for the low monthly subscription cost of $24.99. So what’s the purpose and how does it work? The monthly service includes 100 text messages, 10 voicemails, and a handwritten note by someone posing as your unseen boyfriend or girlfriend.

The person responding on the other end is an actual man or woman who will send you flirtatious messages and respond to yours. You can also create a profile for your imaginary partner, and the person assigned as this partner will send messages that match that profile. If you want your lover to be a fitness enthusiast, for example, then messages may include how he or she is about to hit the gym or go for a run.

You can now fake being in a relationship thanks to the 'invisible boyfriend' app: http://t.co/epcsTxH5hA pic.twitter.com/HuVOiZKBxU — BDCwire (@BDCwire) January 21, 2015

https://twitter.com/Mattken10/status/557860676539256832

The idea behind the Invisible Boyfriend and Invisible Girlfriend app is to fool your friends and family into thinking you are in a relationship. It is especially suitable for those whose parents continue to nag them about still being single. Likewise, if you have a friend who’s incessantly trying to hook you up when you’re not interested, the app can trick the friend into thinking you are taken and get him or her to back off.

The app is also suitable for those who are lonely and just want the experience of conversing with a boyfriend or girlfriend even if it’s imaginary. You can even use the service if you’re coming off a breakup and want to fool your ex into believing that you moved on.

The service was introduced by Matthew Homann who initially began the project in St. Louis as a joke. Currently, the Invisible Boyfriend and Invisible Girlfriend apps are still in beta phase. Homann already has plans to expand on the company; a future service is expected to include actual physical gifts sent to you with a letter from your imaginary lover.

[photo credit: Sean Dreilinger]