A video dating app for British South Asians

Many people looking for a video dating app in the UK have tried the big swiping apps and found them tiring. Hundreds of profiles, short messages that go nowhere, and very few conversations in the languages they grew up with. If your nan speaks Sylheti-flavoured Bengali, your parents switch between Gujarati and English, or Urdu poetry is part of family gatherings, you might want something a little different.

Titli is a live video chat app made in India. It is listed in the Social category on Google Play, not Dating. People use it to meet new people on video, and for some adults that means video dating: getting to know someone face to face before anything else. Titli is only for adults aged 18 and over (see our Terms).

Heritage languages, in the app

Titli runs in nine languages. For British South Asian families, several of them are close to home:

• Bengali, widely spoken in British Bangladeshi communities.
• Gujarati, common in many British Indian families.
• Urdu, common in many British Pakistani families.
• Hindi, plus English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Arabic.

You pick your language when you first open the app. In private messages, incoming messages can be auto-translated into your language. That is handy if your written Gujarati or Bengali is rustier than your spoken. Calls themselves are not translated.

We should be honest that Punjabi is not one of Titli's app languages yet, even though it is widely spoken in Britain.

Signing in from the UK

Phone sign-in on Titli is built around Indian +91 numbers, so from a UK mobile the simple route is Google sign-in, which works from any country. Your phone number is never shown to other members.

Titli is on Google Play worldwide, so you can install it from the UK Play Store.

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

Plan around India Standard Time

Titli is India-first, so many of the people you meet will be in India. India does not change its clocks. That means:

• In winter (GMT), India is five and a half hours ahead. Your 6 pm is 11:30 pm in Delhi.
• In summer (BST), India is four and a half hours ahead. Your 6 pm is 10:30 pm there.

Weekend mornings and lunchtimes in the UK land in India's afternoon and evening, which is often the easiest overlap. If you are chatting with someone in India, say the time in both zones when you suggest a call.

How video dating works on Titli

Titli has no swiping. You talk first and decide later.

• Explore shows people in Popular and New lists. It starts on India; switch the country filter to the United Kingdom, or any other country, to browse people whose profiles are set there. Profiles show a country flag.
• Match connects you with a member of the opposite gender at random for a 1-on-1 video call when you tap to connect. You can add interest filters, such as cricket, films or food; there are no country, age or location filters.
• Messages keep things going between calls, with text, photos, voice notes and gifts.

Calls are billed per minute in coins to the man. Match tickets give a free match call for a limited number of seconds. Payment options are built mainly for India, such as UPI, cards and netbanking, so check what works inside the app.

Between two cultures

Dating as a British South Asian often means holding two sets of expectations at once: your own, and your family's. Video can make this easier, because it lets you take things slowly and get to know someone properly before anyone else gets involved.

• Be clear about what you want. Friendship, something serious, or just good conversation? Say so early.
• Talk about family openly when it feels right. Different families have very different views on dating and marriage.
• Keep it in the app until you trust someone. Titli's Community Guidelines do not allow asking for or offering money, payment or meetings outside the app.

If you end up in a cross-continent connection, our guide to long-distance relationship video calls has practical ideas.

Stay safe

• Never send money to someone you met online, whatever the story.
• Insist on video. Endless camera excuses are a warning sign.
• Do not overshare your address, workplace or social handles early on.
• Block or report anyone from their profile or chat. Reports are reviewed by moderation, and still snapshots may be captured during video calls with an on-screen indicator.

Read more in our guide to safe online dating.

Frequently asked questions