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When Noviandi, 33, first came across a TikTok account offering a service to rent a girlfriend or boyfriend, he was skeptical and suspected it might be a scam.
The account, which had only a few thousand followers, showed blurry photos of Indonesian women and men, all promising to be “your dream partner.”
One post read: “Sella will always be there for you.”
Another said: “Gien loves you no matter what.”
It was exactly the kind of comfort Noviandi needed.
“I just want a friend to talk to, someone to spend my day with, someone I can share my feelings with,” he said.
Previous customers’ reviews praised the service and quality of the rental partners, so he decided to give it a try.
Platforms offer online and personal services
22-year-old Florencia Ghea Priscilla, known as Florence, started her partner rental service PinjemDoi two years ago.
Every week she receives 200 to 300 “orders” from customers across Indonesia requesting one of her 30 rental partners.
“When ordering online, you can choose between text messages, audio calls, video calls, or even request selfies and flirty voice messages, play mobile games together and make sleep calls,” she said.
Sleep calling – talking to the person until one of the callers falls asleep – has become a popular service in Indonesia in recent years.
Customers can also ask their rental partners to go shopping with them, watch a movie, or hang out at a cafe.
It even happens that people bring their partners from their rented apartment to official events such as graduation ceremonies and weddings in order to avoid uncomfortable questions about being single.
Prices vary depending on the service offered. A simple selfie or voice message can cost as little as $1, while face-to-face appointments and video calls can cost up to $8 per hour.
Florence said that many people in Indonesia have never had the opportunity to find a date or share their feelings with someone.
She imagined a service where customers could get in touch with their “dream partner.”
“Unlike real relationships, which can sometimes be dramatic or involve constant arguments, our talents are trained to always show their best side,” she said.
Florence said that while it is not an everyday occurrence, there has been one case where a real-life romantic relationship has developed between a rental partner and a client.
“One couple even got married,” she said.
“I was a bit shocked at the time… the tenant had given notice and a short time later I received a wedding invitation.”
Safety comes first
The rental partner program originated in Japan in the early 2000s, when some companies began offering services to individuals seeking companionship without the obligations of a traditional relationship.
Pici, who wished to remain anonymous, saw an opportunity to introduce a similar service in Indonesia, which led to the creation of Rentmate.id.
“It turns out that many Indonesians are interested in this type of service,” she said.
Pici and Florence both emphasize that the safety of their rental partners is their top priority.
Florence explained that PinjemDoi required a photo of the customer’s ID before each interaction.
“Personal appointments must always take place in public spaces,” she added.
“If a customer invites the rental partners to their home or hotel, we immediately refuse.”
Rentmate.id takes further precautions, such as refusing to use video calls for online orders as these may pose a security risk to the rental partner.
Concerns are that customers may take a screenshot of the video call and misuse it for other purposes.
Male partners also available
Justin, a pseudonym he chose when joining Rentmate.id, was the first male talent recruited by the platform.
Clients continued to book Justin because they said he had a lively personality and an easy-going nature.
In one case, a customer liked it so much that she requested it for seven consecutive days.
Justin said the key to his success is his adaptability and ability to deal with different personalities.
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“We must be able to control our mood,” he said.
“We must not be in a bad mood when dealing with customers.”
Justin emphasized that maintaining professionalism is crucial, especially during loving and romantic interactions with clients.
“You can’t develop feelings, that’s the point … it’s just a rental service and a customer is a customer,” he said.
Despite the nature of his work, Justin has always been open about his part-time job with those close to him, including his family and even his girlfriend.
“Before we started dating, I told her I was doing this,” he said.
“I explained that this is all just a purchase, that it is never serious and that I am getting paid (to be her boyfriend).”
His girlfriend agreed with the idea and simply asked Justin to always be open with her about his experiences.
“Even my mother supported me,” he said.
“She said, ‘It’s okay, you can do whatever you want.'”
Expert remains skeptical
According to Indah Sundari, psychologist and founder of Sundarindah Psychological Corner, several factors are responsible for the increase in demand for rental partners in Indonesia.
“Humans in general have a basic need for affection,” she said.
“It is the need to belong, to be connected and to experience love and care from others.”
(Delivered)
A 2022 survey of more than 1,000 Indonesian men and women conducted by the Health Collaborative Center in Jakarta found that loneliness is the second largest factor contributing to mental health problems in the country.
“Forty-six percent of Indonesians feel lonely. That is a significant number,” said Ms Sundari.
However, Ms. Sundari expressed skepticism about the long-term sustainability of the rental partner phenomenon.
“People, especially Indonesians, often tend towards things that are immediate and quick,” she said.
“Finding a real partner is not an easy and quick process.”
“You have to wait for someone who is right for you, get to know the person first and then go through an adjustment period when you start dating.
“All of this takes time.”
Ms. Sundari emphasized the temporary nature of rental partners.
“You invest so much time, energy and money in someone who is essentially a stranger that you don’t really know,” she said.
She suggested that people suffering from loneliness should not turn to rental agencies but seek professional help.
She also urged people to invest time in finding a real partner.
“It’s OK if the process is long, it’s OK if you have to start all over again sometimes,” she said.
“It’s a long-term investment that will pay off in the end.”
