Setlog singles share daily life before dating, sometimes even before saying 'hello'

Forget blind dates. A growing number of young Koreans are choosing potential partners based on two-second glimpses into everyday life shared through a social media app.

 The viral trend takes place on Setlog, a social media app that lets users share unedited two-second videos of their daily routines. Through invitation-only “three-day date” groups, participants post clips throughout the day before selecting someone they would like to get to know better. 

“People were constantly asking me to introduce them to someone,” said Kim Ga-hee, one of the organizers of a Setlog blind date program. “I thought Setlog could offer something different — a chance to see snippets of someone's everyday life while still capturing the feeling of a natural connection. We've matched at least one couple every round.”

The program takes place in an invitation-only Setlog group featuring five men and five women. Over the course of three days, participants upload at least seven videos, each two seconds long, each day documenting their routines. 

 On the final day, the participants privately tell the organizers which participant they are interested in. If the interest is mutual, the pair exchanges contact information.

 Unlike traditional blind dates, participants do not need to arrange a meeting place or carve out hours from their schedules. The program attracts a wide range of users, from college students to office workers.

The viral format is the latest addition to a growing array of matchmaking options, such as speed-dating and singles mixers. 

Some colleges have hosted Setlog-based dating programs as part of their spirit weeks. Recruitment posts for the event also regularly appear on Blind, an anonymous online forum for office workers.

The trend coincides with the rapid growth of the app itself, which was first launched last December.

Setlog's monthly active users in Korea reached an estimated 7.78 million in May, according to data analytics company WiseApp Retail on June 5. People in their 20s made up the largest age group on the platform, accounting for 45.1 percent of users.

Unlike many social media platforms, the app is built around small, private groups of up to 12 friends where users can share brief, unedited and authentic moments from their daily lives.

“I usually look for someone with a similar lifestyle and routine, such as similar sleep schedules,” said Yoon, a college student who participated in the matchmaking program. “Setlog made it easy to get a feel for that naturally.”

“The downside is that the app is mostly used by women, so finding enough male participants can take some time,” Yoon added. 

Experts view the phenomenon as more than just another dating trend. Rather, they see it as part of a broader shift in how young people form personal relationships.

“Posting videos every hour may seem inefficient at first glance,” said Koo Jeong-woo, a sociology professor at Sungkyunkwan University. “But younger people are placing greater value on lifestyle compatibility and shared interests than on conventional qualifications. As a result, platforms that offer a window into someone's daily life are becoming a new tool for building relationships.” 

BY LEE AH-MI [[email protected]]