In an age of social media, unusual ideas can catch everyone's attention within hours. The latest example is a viral post shared by Nalini Unagar on X (formerly Twitter), who said she could rent people for a day and they could have her as a companion.
The offer is purely platonic, said Nalini, and is not to date, romance, or any type of physical relationship. The service is to provide companionship and social support for people who may want to be around in their day-to-day life.
It is worth noting that the claims are based on the user’s social media post, and the authenticity, nature, or commercial availability of the service has not been independently verified.
What Does the Offer Include?
Nalini discussed in her post several activities she would be willing to accompany clients for during the day.
Attending family functions, social gatherings, or parties. Watching movies together. Coffee or meals. Shopping trips. Finding new places or seeing sights. Just talking to someone who wants companionship in the world.
The idea seems to be for lonely people or lonely people who need a companion to go to public events with no expectation of a romantic relationship.
Social Media Reacts
The post, posted on July 6, quickly gained traction online, with more than 200,000 views and hundreds of comments.
Those users were laughing at the time, and others said some users responded with humour, and others discussed the social implications of such services and about the larger social implications of these services in a more general social implications of such services in general.
Some of the notable reactions included:
- One user asked whether there were EMI payment options for this service.
- Another compared the idea to Japan's "Rent-a-Family" and "Rent-a-Friend" services, which have been around for years.
- Others questioned the pricing and whether people would actually pay for such companionship.
The discussion soon extended beyond the post itself to be on loneliness, urban living, and changing social dynamics.
A Reflection of Our Modern-Day Urban Life?
Experts have suggested that rapid urbanisation and busy lifestyles have led to feelings of loneliness in young people in the world's cities and in young people living away from their families.
Many people move to cities for education or work and may not be able to make meaningful social connections. So services oriented to companionship have emerged in many countries.
Japan, for example, has long offered commercial companionship services in which people can hire someone to accompany them to social events, family gatherings, or casual outings. These services are typically non-romantic and are oriented toward emotional and social support.
The viral post has left many wondering if similar concepts could be accepted in India.
Safety and Verification Remain Important
Social media users found the concept to be very new, but were also concerned about their safety and trust.
Meeting strangers through online means is inherently dangerous, and experts say to be careful before you go through any service advertised on social media. When doing so, identities should be verified, terms and conditions should be known, and personal safety should be prioritized.
As it stands now, the post is a viral social media discussion but not an established business model. But whether it actually goes on to become a professional service or fades as a short-term internet trend is yet to be seen.
