By Everson Luhanga
- Crox Ototomo launches Hook Up after seeing young South Africans struggle with fake profiles and endless chats on dating apps.
- Hook Up uses video calls and instant messaging to help users confirm real matches and move faster to real connections.
For many young South Africans, dating apps feel like hard work. Profiles often look fake, chats drag on and meeting someone real can take a long time.
That daily frustration pushed Crox Ototomo to build Hook Up. It is a new online platform focused on real people and real connections.
Speaking to Scrolla, Crox says he saw a clear gap in how people meet online. Many platforms felt unsafe, shallow or difficult to use for everyday people, even though most spend hours online.
He also noticed how much time gets wasted on chats that never lead anywhere. Hook Up was built to change that. It allows instant messaging, simple swiping and live video calls.
The platform uses real time one on one video calls. This lets users confirm who they are talking to straight away. Crox says this helps remove catfishing and builds trust from the start.
Hook Up is aimed at people aged 18 to 35. This includes students, young professionals and digitally active users looking for casual or meaningful connections.
Age rules are strictly enforced. Crox says any underage account is removed immediately.
Safety is a key focus on the platform. Crox says user data is protected through secure login systems, encrypted connections, moderation tools and reporting features to reduce scams and abuse.
Hook Up is web based and does not need app store downloads. Users can access it directly through a website, which can help save data.
Crox says the goal is simple. He wants to give South Africans a space to connect in their own way, with less talk and more real action.
Pictured above: Hook Up’s web based platform allows users to verify matches through live video calls.
Image source: Hook Up
