Meet people from other countries, face to face

There is something special about the first time you meet people from other countries and actually talk, not just trade comments under a post. You hear how they say your name. You see their kitchen, their window, their evening light. You realise that someone in Dubai, Dhaka or Birmingham worries about the same exams and loves the same old songs.

Titli is a live video chat app made in India where that can happen. It is listed in the Social category on Google Play. People use it for friendship, language practice and, for some adults, flirting and video dating. Titli is only for adults aged 18 and over (see our Terms).

Why meet people from other countries at all?

People have many reasons, and most of them are some mix of these:

• Curiosity. You want to know how ordinary life looks somewhere else.
• Language. Speaking English, Hindi or Arabic with a real person beats any textbook.
• Family roots. Many people in the diaspora want to connect with India, and many Indians are curious about life abroad.
• Romance. Sometimes two people from different places simply click.

All of these are good reasons, and they share one thing: they work best when you are patient and honest about what you want.

How to find people from other countries on Titli

Titli does not use swiping or distance. You meet people by talking.

1. Sign in. Google sign-in works from any country; phone sign-in is built around Indian +91 numbers.
2. Open Explore and change the country. Explore starts on India. Its country filter lets you pick another country and browse people whose profiles are set there. Each profile shows a flag.
3. Read the profile, then say hello. Call or message from the profile. A message first is often kinder across time zones.
4. Try Match for a surprise. Tap to connect and Match connects you with a member of the opposite gender at random for a 1-on-1 video call, with optional interest filters. It has no country, age or location filter, and Match calls are billed per minute to the man.

Titli is on Google Play worldwide, so you can install it from your own country's Play Store.

You can also use Titli in a phone or computer browser at titliapp.com.

Cultural exchange: what makes it go well

The best cross-cultural friendships feel like an exchange, not an interview. Try these:

• Swap something small. A favourite song, a dish your family makes, a word in your language.
• Show, don't lecture. Point the camera at the rain outside or the chai on your desk.
• Ask open questions. "What does a normal Sunday look like for you?" invites a story.
• Accept differences. Ideas about family, food, religion and dating vary a lot. You do not need to agree; you do need to be respectful.
• Learn each other's festivals. It gives you a reason to call again.

Language helps here. Titli runs in English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Urdu and Arabic, and incoming chat messages can be auto-translated into your language.

When friendship turns into something more

If you start to have feelings for someone in another country, that is fine and very human. Slow is your friend.

• Keep talking on video. Seeing someone regularly on camera tells you far more than chat alone.
• Be honest about intentions. Say whether you are looking for friendship, romance or are not sure yet.
• Mind the distance. Long-distance connections need routine and patience. Our guide to long-distance relationship video calls has practical ideas.
• Stay inside the app until trust is earned. Titli's Community Guidelines do not allow asking for or offering money, payment or meetings outside the app.

The scams to know about

Unfortunately, "someone from another country" is the favourite disguise of online scammers. Common patterns include:

• The sudden emergency. A medical bill, a stuck parcel, a visa fee. Any request for money is a reason to stop.
• The customs gift. "I sent you a present; just pay the customs charge." This is a classic scam.
• The investment tip. A new friend who wants to teach you crypto or trading.
• The camera that never works. Someone who refuses video, again and again, may not be who they say.
• Moving too fast. Declarations of love within days, followed by requests.

If anything like this happens, end the conversation and block or report the person from their profile or chat. Read our guides to online dating red flags and romance scams in India for more detail.

Protect your privacy

• Your phone number is never shown to other members.
• Keep your address, workplace and social handles to yourself early on.
• Do not record calls. Recording others without consent is against the rules.
• Still snapshots may be captured during video calls for moderation, with an on-screen indicator. Our safety page explains how.

Frequently asked questions