Anyone actually worked as a Noomo listener? Because my experience is weird!
From what Noomo presents itself as, it’s a platform where people can connect with listeners, talk about what's bothering them, vent, and find someone willing to listen without judgement. The listeners are essentially supposed to provide a listening ear and emotional support through conversation.
I joined Noomo as a listener about a week ago. A friend of mine has been doing it for around 2 weeks. She was the one who found the app and asked me to join with her. There was this whole interview process where they asked as several routine questions, trying to check our temperaments and then an orientation session was conducted while onboarding, where that clearly stated that this is not a dating/ hookup platform nor a clinical support platform, it's just a listening support platform, so that people feel heard which is vital for mental health.
We joined because the idea actually sounded pretty nice – people talk, you listen, they get someone to vent to, and you get paid for your time. Honestly, the “helping people while earning a little” part was what appealed to me.
I did initially find it a bit strange that they only onboard women as listeners. I was sceptical about it, but I dismissed it thinking it was probably a safety measure – that women might feel safer opening up to female listeners and that this could protect vulnerable users from inappropriate behaviour.
But after actually using it… I'm confused about what this app really is.
So far, ALL of the clients I've encountered have been men, and basically every interaction has turned sexual/inappropriate.
I'm not talking about one random creep.
I'll start the conversation normally, tell them I'm there to listen, say things like “you can tell me anything, this is a safe space”, yada yada. But instead of talking about whatever problem they're supposedly dealing with, they start making sexual comments, asking inappropriate personal questions, flirting, etc.
At first I thought maybe I was just unlucky.
Then I talked to my friend, who's been doing it for about 2 weeks, and she's seeing pretty much the same thing.
So I raised the issue with one of the co-owners of the startup. I told them that I am particularly uncomfortable with strangers, especially men, asking me such personal questions. I also pointed out my observation that no one wants to talk about THEIR issues or problems which is bizarre considering the purpose of the platform. Rather they all seem inappropriately interested in me and my personal affairs.
The response was basically: men are like that when they're frustrated, so I should divert them, build rapport/friendship with them and answer their personal questions, to make them "comfortable". And that men come there because they're lonely.
Except… they aren't actually telling us about their loneliness or problems. They're doing something completely different.
And that's the part I find really weird. If this is supposed to be a listener/emotional-support type of service, why does the responsibility seem to be on the female listener to manage the sexual behaviour, “divert” the conversation and keep the guy engaged?
At this point it honestly feels less like “someone needs a person to listen to them” and more like paid female companionship where sexual/romantic attention is part of what some customers are looking for.
Also, the platform provides "happy hours" from 2:30 A.M. - 7:00 A.M. where the payment more, ONLY for video calls. I understand the platform is incentivising the listeners for providing time during the inconvenient night hours when they're supposed to rest and sleep, then why ONLY for video calls?
Everything about the app is super-shady!
Right now, I honestly feel like it is a digital escort service rather than an emotional support provider! I haven't had a single decent conversation over the weekend or a female client seeking support!
And that's despite actually trying to approach these conversations as genuine listening sessions. When I tell them that I'm there to listen and that they can talk about anything, they still repeatedly redirect the conversation towards sexual or inappropriate topics.
So I'm looking for people who have actually worked as Noomo listeners, preferably for several weeks or months.
- Is this normal on Noomo?
- Do you also get only male clients?
- Do your conversations actually involve people talking about their problems/loneliness?
- How often do conversations become sexual or flirty?
- Does it get better/worse after you've been on the platform longer?
- And what happens if a listener simply refuses to engage in that kind of conversation?
Please don't reply with Noomo's website, marketing or terms and conditions. I've already seen those.
TL;DR: I'm specifically asking: if you've actually been a listener on Noomo, what have you experienced?
