Confronted with the confinement measure applied since 17 March 2020, the Once app, inventor of the slow-dating movement, brings its own contribution. The feature is designed to help its users to continue making great encounters during this unprecedented period, while effectively combating the spread of COVID-19.

Paris, March 2020 – With the spread of Covid-19, the only real protection is to stay home in order to protect yourself, protect the most vulnerable, and avoid overwhelming health services. How do you handle this period if you’re single? How can life in confinement be as serene, gentle and positive as possible?

Early next week, Once will make available – to its 9 million users, and worldwide – a new free feature to meet your match via live-video. This option will be available after a few text messages have been exchanged on the application’s chat. Double consent is requested, meaning both parties have to agree to the video-call.

The integration of video-chat is new for Once, which until then had prioritised texts and photos. Without the possibility of meeting each other right away, video-chat is an option that aims to respond to the exceptional situation we’re experiencing while protecting users, who don’t have to share their personal number or email address to chat live via a third-party tool. No obligation and no unwanted content or calls, Once remains true to its commitment to quality online dating while remaining positive.

“Our message is, first, Stay home . Then, being confined and alone is a bit of a double punishment, so we try to bring some cheerfulness to this period. Between starring at your wallpaper or meeting your daily match, who might make you laugh in your confined day… there’s room for ideas in the dating space, and there is space to create a bit of positive in all of this.” comments Clémentine Lalande – Director of Once

The Slow dating proposes to take the time to meet and discover the match of the day. An approach that could have a positive effect and bring new stories forth, to be pursued once the confinement is behind us. “If he or she is THE one, then meeting in person can wait for a few weeks… and the confinement might just be an unexpected teasing period, now with video as a new tool.” Clementine adds.

Since the beginning of the confinement wave that touches many countries worldwide in response to the virus, Once’s activity has increased by 29% worldwide. A signal that dating users are willing to make a use of their time at home… to continue meeting new people online.

The new feature will be available both on iOS and Android phones on Tuesday next week.

About Once – Launched in October 2015, Once is the inventor of slow-dating. Because you need the right conditions to create great stories, Once offers only 1 match per day to its user : every day at noon, you can find out who has been specially chosen for you on that day. So far the application has just over 9 million worldwide. Once is available for free on Google Play and App Store https://getonce.com