Recently, public opinion in China and Vietnam has been stirred up by the case of "Hong Ty Nam Kinh" - a 38-year-old man pretending to be a girl, cheating on 1,691 young men and secretly filming a clip to post on social networks.
According to China Herald, under the guise of a female account, Mr. Jiao has built an image online for many years, thereby approaching a series of young men through online platforms, luring them into sex, secretly filming clips and illegally profiting.
From a sociological perspective, the story does not stop at the level of crime. It also reflects a harsh reality: the trend of modern dating is increasingly shifting from real life to virtual space - where all moral, safe and even legal boundaries are easily erased.
When the "Billionaire of Nam Kinh" incident broke out, a Weibo user questioned: "I don't know who they met and made an appointment with through? Is it a certain application? I mean they don't look like anyone else, but there must be something in common - they may both like a certain type of game or app - combined with the same 'ecosystem'.
Another user commented on the trend of online dating: "If you wanted to date, you should have used a dating app like Tantan or Tinder. As long as there is a need, the algorithm will suggest it. In addition, many late-night platforms also have 'feel-provoking' livestreams, and some people who intend to meet with sensitive people will often proactively approach them immediately".
The explosive development of social media channels has made finding a relationship to date and have a one-night relationship an unprecedented advantage.
With just a smartphone and a few steps on a dating app such as Tinder, Bumble... or even Facebook dating, users can quickly access hundreds of dating accounts.
Whether it is serious desire or simply entertainment, one-night love... the algorithm will quickly suggest a " suitable target", based on the user's personal behavior and preferences.
Obviously, the development of technology and algorithms is gradually reshaping the way young people connect and love. Just a few steps on the phone screen can set up an appointment.
But along with that convenience, there are a series of risks: from identity theft, love scams, to being secretly filmed, taken on screen, distributed personal images and leading to serious legal and ethical consequences.
In the case of "Hong Ty Nam Kinh", many people only discovered the truth after the video was widely circulated.
The shock was not only the deception about the true gender of the woman they had been in a relationship with, but also a direct blow to self-respect, honor and privacy that were expected in intimate meetings.
The development of algorithms, AI, and technology is not bad, they only become problems when used for bad purposes - or when users are too lenient with their own privacy.
The case of "Billionaire of Nam Kinh" is a warning with the trend of online dating among young people today: don't let a few screen slides become the start of a long slide - both in honor and life.
