'Invisible Boyfriend' App Helps Singles Avoid Relationship Questions

BOSTON (CBS) - In the age of social media, it's a tough question to dodge; are you in a relationship? Married? Engaged? According to family counselor Dr. Charles Foster of Boston, it's a lot of pressure. "Being in a committed relationship is a status symbol."

One young woman, who did not want to be identified, knows all about it. "My mother is always asking; when are you going to get married? Are you seeing anyone?" she said. Eventually she got tired of all the questions and found herself a boyfriend. "We met at school. He loves to ski and to go horseback riding." At least that's what she told her family. That avid skier doesn't actually exist. She created him through a new app called Invisible Boyfriend.

Matt Homan created the app when he saw the need to duck all that family pressure. "You get to create your girlfriend or boyfriend, choose their picture, build a relationship story of how they met, pick a personality," he said. Users get 100 text messages, a handwritten note and weekly voicemails from their fake mate.

It may sound extreme, but Foster believes it's a useful tool. "If imaginary Joe suddenly appears then they are off her back. It's an effective way to deal with a very difficult problem," he said.

But relationship expert Jane Greer can see some drawbacks. "All that energy that's going into this fake relationship is lost on the opportunity to meet someone and actually build a relationship with someone who is present and available," she said.

Still Foster believes an app like this can help singles buy some time and avoid making a common mistake. "One of the biggest dangers when you are single is being stampeded into the wrong committed relationship. So much of my work with couples is people who should not have been married in the first place and they know it," he said.

The app is $25 a month for basic service. If you want extra texts or messages, that will be extra.