Asian Insight

Social Media, Love and Privacy

I have strong views on how much should be shared on Facebook. Photos, comments, videos - all fine and dandy. But my one pet hate is couples sharing emotions and “special moments” on Facebook. I’m not jealous or bitter, I’ve been there and done it. I’ve just grown up. I just do not see is necessary to share EVERY photo, thought or emotion over a public site. My biggest pet hate is writing on your loved ones wall. Why is that necessary? Surely you communicate in so many other different ways that writing on you boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s wall is the very last option? At least PM him…

Today my social media prayers have been answered. VCNC, a Korean start-up has released Between, “a mobile service that provides a secret place for lovers to communicate and keep their precious moments.” This app allows you to build a private archive of all your precious moments together in private. You can store all of your private messages (similar to whatsapp), save photos, create little memos/love notes for one another - it’s perfect for the young, tech-loving Asian market that the company are trying to target. The app is available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean and has attracted more than 45,000 users worldwide. 

For an app that has been available since November and targets a niche market, the number of users is impressive. Since it’s release, the app has reached #2 on the iTunes Chart in Korea and continues to attract more and more lovers. In the long term, creators VCNC aim to connect advertisers with couples to provide them with unique/new date ideas and other ways to spice up the relationship. 

I do wonder if part of the mentality behind professing your love publicly is the “territory” aspect. On a private app, as much as everyone else will appreciate it, you won’t get to tell the world that he/she is yours by plastering his/her wall with sweet nothings. 

I am convinced this app is taking us one step closer towards killing romance. What happened to the days of handwritten love letters and photo albums… Would you use a private app to create memories of your relationship? 

- Charlotte

Watch the super-cheesy promo video for Between on YouTube.