Escort Service Offers 500 Rubles for One Hour of Companionship
Listen Up: The Surge in Paid Chats for Emotional Support
Looking for a listening ear without judgment? You're not alone! Internet classifieds brim with offers for conversation services, ready to lend a hand whenever you need it. A "Komsomolka" reporter decided to dive into this anonymous conversation trend and share her findings.
They're Not Looking for Friends, But a Good Chat
"A mysterious soul, ready to hear everything you've been bottling up for ages. I'm here to offer private correspondence or a phone call - whatever is comfortable for you. Strict confidentiality guaranteed. I will lend support and refrain from unwanted advice. Remember, help can sometimes come from unexpected places." This type of ad isn't hard to find online. Interestingly, most of the ads are posted by women, but men do join the fray too. Rates range from 300 rubles per hour of chat to an astounding 5,000 rubles. Those who claim to be "psychologists" or "coaches" typically charge the most. Occasionally, there are ads offering the services for free or for any donation the client chooses.
The reporter decided to try her hand at being a chat buddy herself. She opted for the most common and affordable rates: 500 rubles per hour for text chat, and a thousand rubles for phone calls. She skipped video calls and was honest about her creative profession and ability to communicate with various types of people. After publishing her ad late in the evening, she received her first client in less than an hour.
Hoping for More Than Just a Friend
A 38-year-old man requested a chat. As it's customary with these services, payment is made upfront, and the conversation is moved to a messenger. The reporter assumed payment would come later, but she was taken aback when her client offered his help, hinting at a simple romance brewing. That night, she couldn't bring herself to become someone's friend for money and ended the conversation. By 6 a.m., her new friend was already sending kisses, urging an immediate continuation of their conversation, and he got upset when she responded two hours later.
When the Chat Turns Serious
The next day, calls and messages poured in. One guy was fixated on women's legs, specifically their footwear and stockings, asking for personal photos and discussing various outfit combinations. Another asked if she could be his house helper, while yet another tried to convince her to post his ad for a thousand rubles. By midday, those seeking conversation had quieted down, but they picked up again in the evening.
One guy asked to discuss sports and "related nonsense" with him. He's 18, we'll call him Kolya (all names have been changed for ethical reasons). Kolya's mom is a professional wrestler and suffered a serious injury in the ring in front of her son, he wrote. She went into cardiac arrest, needed to be revived, and was rushed to the hospital. The guy asked the reporter to talk about every little detail of the first aid given to his mom, share links on the topic, and was genuinely distressed about her condition. They spoke for 2.5 hours until late in the evening. The reporter thought they had covered everything, but Kolya wanted to discuss his mom's injury and aid again and again, as if trying to find someone to blame. The reporter was starting to lose it. Kolya reluctantly agreed to end their conversation, but asked to talk again tomorrow. Even though she refused, he paid for the conversation, saying, "it's your time."
The reporter barely slept that night, worrying about Kolya's mom's condition and questioning whether she had the emotional resilience needed to handle such situations. She wondered if someone as cold-hearted as she felt didn't empathize in such situations. But if psychologists can set boundaries and not get involved in a client's personal life, she realized she lacked those skills. The next morning, she received a letter from Kolya. He felt "much better emotionally," thanked her for her help, and asked to find time to talk again. But he disappeared the next day.
In just over two days, almost 400 people viewed her ad, around 20 reached out. Only men contacted her, not a single woman wanted to befriend her for money.
The Other Side of the Conversation
After that, the reporter decided to try being the one reaching out for “friend-on-demand” services. She picked a few ads and called her “colleagues.”
Irina offered her services for free but allowed clients to donate for the conversation. She's a social educator by profession, holds a degree in psychology, and works at a school. So, Irina had this idea to offer a shoulder to people going through tough times.
In five days, around 50 people wrote to her, about 30 of whom were anxious or seeking sex. They asked, “How much do you charge per hour?” or “Let's meet for 5,000 rubles.” Around 10 were simply looking for a girl to go out with. But she has a husband and a child, she doesn't need this, Irina admitted. It was easy and pleasant to communicate with her. Her voice was warm; her intonations responsive. Indeed, such a person is capable of supporting a conversation, even if you're not acquainted.
According to her, excluding sexually explicit messages, most of those who wrote to her were people with alcohol and drug dependencies. The main demographic was men aged 25-30. They were worried about having no one to share with, wanting someone to listen and understand that they're not as bad as they seem.
Another demographic was migrants. Around 5-7 wrote to her. They invited her out, asked for personal data, and social media. Some might have done it for registration and marriage, Irina wasn't sure; she didn't go to the meetings.
Girls also wrote to her. One asked Irina, “Can you insult my sister?” Irina was shocked until she told her that such a service is called "rant-for-hire". Someone's angry or upset, can't curse themselves, but really wants to insult the offender. No problem, for money, they'll do even more.
Irina admitted that she plans to remove her ad as soon as the period she paid for expires.
- I'd be happy to help people with real problems, listen to them. But such requests are rare, while others are from people with specific preferences and perversions, that's psychiatry, she can't help with that, - Irina noted.
"I get calls from creeps, drug addicts, and migrants"
Ivan, another representative of the conversation services, charges 350 rubles per hour. Handsome, although the photo is generated by AI. Ivan happily shared that women of all ages, from 18 to 70, reach out to him. He's 35 himself and has been offering this service for two years. He says he doesn't get tired. As it turns out, the demand for men-friends online is lower than for women.
- A girl might write and share something she can't tell her friend, or people might call just to vent, some even cry on the phone. I can discuss, share my thoughts, and suggest what I'd do in that situation if they ask. But we always end on a positive note, - says Ivan.
- So, what do you do for a living, not a psychologist?
- I'm a tire fitter, - Ivan laughs. - Sometimes people ask for sex, but I don't provide those services. By the way, prostitutes sometimes call, tell me about their clients, how they mistreat them. For me, “friend for an hour” is a hobby, I enjoy talking, listening, drawing conclusions, so I charge symbolically. My acquaintance did the same, and a guy called her, asking her to curse him over the phone. He'd send her 10, 20 thousand rubles. She made some money and deleted her account, - Ivan shared with me.
According to Ivan, he, like the reporter, was offered to post someone else's ad on his page for money.
- Don't get involved with that, they want to use you as a mule - launder money or steal an account, and you might end up with a criminal case, - my “friend” explained.
...The reporter deleted her ad on the third day, and it felt like a weight was lifted off her chest. After all, true friendship can't be bought for any amount of money!
EXPERT COMMENT
"It's easier to tell a stranger one's deepest secret"
The popularity of these services is built on the principles of social psychology. Psychologist Zik Rubin was one of the first to describe the "stranger-on-a-train effect" - when it's easier to tell a stranger a deep secret or a problem and get temporary relief. The understanding that you'll never meet again gives a sense of freedom to express oneself and facilitates disclosure. However, this effect is temporary, like taking painkillers for a migraine instead of treating the root cause. This was explained to “Komsomolskaya Pravda” by clinical psychologist and professor at the Department of Age Psychology, Yevgeniya Ivanova.
The expert emphasizes the importance of following safe communication rules.
- If you genuinely need a platonic friend, pay attention to their photo, what they write about themselves, the questions they ask you, and if they're respecting boundaries. If something's not right, politely end the conversation. Many users appreciate the financial aspect: seeing a psychologist is expensive, but with a "friend for an hour," you can discuss pressing issues for 100 to 1000 rubles. However, remember that you're not in a professional psychological consultation, so take any "friend's" advice with a grain of skepticism. Yevgeniya Ivanova noted.
The expert advises seeking professional psychological help when struggling to overcome life's challenges alone. If therapy is unaffordable, call a helpline to talk to a professional for free. Intriguingly, the "stranger-on-a-train effect" applies here as well, similar to the "friend for an hour" service.
- The mystery advertiser promises to provide private correspondence or a phone call, offering emotional support and confidentiality, free from unwanted advice.
- Rates for these services range from as low as 300 rubles per hour to a high of 5,000 rubles, with those claiming to be psychologists or coaches charging the most.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, mental health and lifestyle, personal relationships, education, and self-development, these paid chats serve as a platform for individuals seeking an empathetic listener.
- Irina, a social educator and psychology graduate, offers free conversation services, hoping to provide a shoulder to lean on for those in need, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in building relationships.
- These services are not without their challenges, as some users may have alcohol or drug dependencies, seek inappropriate relationships, or have unconventional requests such as "rant-for-hire" services.
- Expert recommendations stress the importance of following safe communication rules, focusing on the individual's demeanor, respect for boundaries, and overall credibility, and seeking professional help when facing life's challenges.
