I'm a single mom who uses dating apps. I think Stir, the app for single parents, isn't worth the hype.
- I'm a single mom, and I've been on dating apps for about four years now.
- I was excited when I first heard about Stir, a dating app geared toward single parents.
I've been dating as a single mom for about four years. That means I'm no stranger to dating apps. I've had dating-app successes, as I've been in a handful of relationships that began in this newfangled way over the past few years.
But I'm still single, so when I heard there was a dating app designed specifically with single parents in mind, I have to admit, my swiping thumb got a little tingly.
Stir, the latest dating app from Match Group, which also designed Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid, had been buzzed about for months before it finally dropped, and as far as I was concerned, it seemed like a great idea. While most dating apps have a niche, none caters all that much to parents.
But after giving Stir about a month and half of effort, I'm ready to hit the handy "remove app" button. Stir has failed to stir up one ounce of interest or desire in me.
Right now, it just takes up phone space while mocking me by sending alerts that Mitch or Linden "liked" me, then not letting me see who they are unless I upgrade to the paid version. That's just one of its annoying, lackluster features.
There aren't a ton of users yet
While it's likely a symptom of the fact that Stir hasn't hit the masses yet, a good 75% of the men who show up in my queue are way too far away to meet up with.
While I have my preferences set to a maximum of 15 miles, the app still shows men who are an hour away. When I do leave the house, it's going to be at a nearby location with an easy escape route.
Also, I haven't loved its user base, so I've given few right swipes. Of the matches I've gotten so far, the conversations have been utterly disappointing. They seemed to illuminate how sad and lonely a lot of men on the app were, because, well, dating as a single parent is hard — which I get.
I'm sticking to other ways of finding a match
Right now, I'm a lot more hopeful about falling in love with my FedEx guy, who is super cute, than meeting someone on Stir.
While the idea of a dating app just for single parents is still a solid one, I'm mildly depressed at what it looks like up close. Craving intimacy while being a single parent can be tough. Desperation is undesirable at best.
I'm hopeful Stir will work out its kinks, and that a few months from now, the community will grow so that there are more matches for everyone. But for now, I'll stick to Bumble, Hinge, and even Tinder, where there are dads, men with tattoos and man buns, and a chiller vibe in general.