Instagram ‘reality show’ to rival Love Is Blind

As we enter our eighth week of self-isolation, finding a true love connection has never been harder.

While many around the world turn to the usual culprits – Bumble, Hinge and… (shudders) Tinder – to try that spark, a group of UBC students decided to create an alternative: UBC VirtuaLove.

Inspired by popular dating shows Love is blind and the newest yet Too hot to handlethe Instagram/reality show account was created to match UBC students without the physical appearance factor.

In addition to the Netflix shows listed above, organizers turned to the New York-based Instagram account. @loveisquarantine. The account, which is operated by Instagram and Google Sheets, matches participants and asks them to film themselves after their blind dates in isolation.

UBC VirtuaLove uses the same model. However, registration is currently limited to members of approved UBC organizations such as AMS Events, Ski & Board, Greek organizations, Varsity sports, UBC REC, The Plug and The Calendar. However, UBC clubs can DM the account to add their organization to the list.

How did it start?

The organizers of VirtuaLove came up with the concept at the end of April, only a few weeks after Love is blind aired its last episode. For the unenlightened or without Netflix, Love is blind is a ten-episode reality TV show that follows contestants who meet, fall in love, and get engaged without ever seeing each other. At the start of the quarantine, the VirtuaLove the organizers saw Netflix Love is blind as a reprieve “for clumsy studying and nothing in between”.

The organizers wished to remain anonymous so that the whole process could be hidden from competitors and viewers.

After toying with the idea of ​​applying to Netflix shows themselves, the group decided to create a show that students like them could easily participate in. For organizers, dating apps such as Hinge, Bumble and Tinder have had a desensitizing effect by getting to know new potential matches for their personality.

When the group discovered love is quarantine, they thought about how to create a pragmatic version for UBC students like them. After narrowing the group down to a few organizations that they thought would be comfortable vlogging themselves, they launched an Instagram account and started following random people.

The first season had 35 applicants and from these applications, the team was able to select 12 participants, 6 men and 6 women. Filming for the first cohort began on Thursday May 7 and wrapped on Saturday May 9.

How it works?

In VirtuaLove, candidates apply via a Google form divided into three parts. The first part focuses on eligibility criteria, age, UBC affiliations and relationship status.

The second part takes basic information about the participant, including their major and sexuality. Participants can be matched with participants of any gender—however, in this cohort, all couples are heterosexual.

The third part includes optional compatibility questions. Questions such as “What is your biggest pet peeve?” and “What does a typical Friday look like?” (pre-COVID?)” helped the team create a character profile for each person. This helped them to understand the “general vibe” of the candidates, many of whom did not know them.

Once the candidates are chosen, they are each paired with three people they haven’t met, or at least don’t follow on Instagram. Each shooting day, participants receive a personalized program with the names of the matches they have chosen.

On the first day, they are introduced to each other in the form of a quick 10-minute speed round. Once all of their dates have been completed, the organizers receive the competitors’ rankings helping them to create the pairings for the second round. Each night, one of the couples is eliminated. Although dates are not recorded so participants can focus on knowing their matches, participants will create post-date reactions for our enjoyment.

On the second day, contestants will be matched with two of their matches who they will talk to again on a blind date for half an hour.

On the final day, known as the “revelation,” contestants will be allowed to FaceTime with their final match.

Filming of the first season

Although the VirtuaLove The crew didn’t know many of the Season 1 contestants before filming began, so there were a few commonalities – one of them being how they were perceived physically. “Based on the intro videos, a lot of guys said they were automatically based on their short stature and a lot of girls were automatically based on their tall stature,” said one of the organizers of VirtuaLove.

“So they are [trying to] see if [they] can make a real connection with someone [that they themselves] don’t judge automatically.

As for what the team considers to be the best storyline for the series, they hope the contestants will find genuine connections even if they aren’t pursuing something romantic. And for us at home, they just hope we can “follow the stories and be entertained with them.”

The pilot episode of VirtuaLove airs tonight May 10 on the @ubcvirtualove Instagram page. VirtuaLove is launching season two now.