What Are Pearº Rings and Will They Replace Online Dating?

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Learn the pros and cons of this real worldwide singles experiment
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Tired of swiping through the same old dating apps? Pearº rings are part of a growing social experiment that’s trying to get rid of online dating altogether and replace it with real-life connections. Whether you’ve heard of this viral company on social media or seen someone wearing their turquoise or lilac ring, we’ll break down what Pearº rings mean, their benefits, drawbacks, whether they really work or not, and where they came from. Singles, read on!

Meaning of the Pearº Ring Social Experiment

Pearº rings are silicone turquoise (for straight individuals) or lilac (for LGBTQ+ individuals) rings that signify that you’re single and encourage others to make their move. The goal of these rings is to eliminate the need for (and frustrations of) online dating and push singles to make connections in real life.

Section 1 of 4:

What are pearº rings?

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  1. pearº is a social experiment that aims to take dating off of apps like Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr. Wearing the turquoise (or lilac) ring symbolizes that you’re available on the dating market, encouraging others to hit you up IRL. [1]
    • To join, pay a one-time fee in exchange for 3 silicone rings (1 small, 1 medium, and 1 large), a unique membership number, and access to exclusive MeetUp events for £30. [2]
    • The turquoise ring is primarily for people who identify as straight, while the lilac ring is for those who identify as LGBTQ+. [3]
    • The rings don’t have any technology inside that track users. Instead, the results of the “experiment” are their customer success stories. [4]
    • You can wear your pearº ring on whatever finger you want. [5]
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Section 2 of 4:

Pros and Cons of Pearº Rings

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  1. If all 1.2 billion single people around the world wore a pearº ring to show that they’re single, you wouldn’t have to spend money each month on dating app subscriptions—not to mention countless hours scrolling and swiping. Instead, you can just spend the one-time fee to meet people IRL.
    • Pearº also gives you access to singles nights and IRL dating events that wouldn’t be available otherwise through MeetUp groups.
  2. One survey found that 53% of single men said that the fear of seeming creepy reduces their likelihood of talking to women. [6] If single people who want to be pursued wear the pearº ring, it may make men and other people more comfortable hitting on them.
  3. If you’re wearing a pearº ring and someone you’re not interested in who knows about the social experiment approaches you, it’s harder to say something that lets them down easily, like “I’m sorry, I have a partner.” This potentially might make the ring a safety risk, especially for women. [7]
    • It also may give some people a “green light” to harass other singles. [8]
    • If you’re uncomfortable being pursued in a certain environment, like at work, try slipping the ring in your pocket until you’re in the mood to mingle.
  4. Hitting people up (both in person and on an app) takes guts. A fear of rejection may be one of the reasons some people dislike or avoid dating apps. [9] However, this fear doesn’t go away when dating in person. [10] Some pearº users may be afraid of putting themselves out there, even with a green (or purple) flag on their finger.
    • Because the rings are to draw in people interested in dating, they may also take away some of the fun and excitement out of taking a chance and asking out someone you find attractive.
    • One of the best ways to get over the fear of rejection is to figure out the root of it and work on learning to love and value yourself . [11]
  5. Official pearº events are hosted on the club platform MeetUp in large cities in the US and UK, such as Denver or London . Buying the ring can give you proof that you need to submit to access these groups, which host hangouts and singles events.
    • However, although most of these groups have more than 200 members, some of them aren’t super active or have low attendance.
    • Since most of the groups are in large cities, it might not be worth the purchase for those who live in rural areas.
    • Other cities include Phoenix , Las Vegas , Philadelphia , Washington D.C. , Miami , Chicago , and Detroit .
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Section 3 of 4:

Do pearº rings really work?

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  1. Because the only physical item you get from your purchase is the silicone ring and the experiment isn’t popular, some users have called it a “scam.” The company is genuine, but the ring may be more of a publicity stunt than a real attempt at defeating dating apps.
    • Dating apps thrive off the idea that people don’t feel comfortable asking someone if they’re single in person anymore. [12] Pearº rings may just a placebo to push singles to be more confident approaching others. [13]
    • Although the rings are an interesting idea, they might not be worth it if not all singles wear them and if the MeetUp groups, events, and additional benefits aren’t well-organized.
  2. The social experiment is starting to get its feet off the ground, so some people haven’t had success with them yet. However, as sales increase and more people start wearing the rings, there may be more stories about the connections that form because of them. [14]
    • Currently, 3 turquoise pearº ring releases have sold out, and the stock in their 4th release is 96% gone. [15] The brand sells around 1,000 to 2,000 rings per day. [16]
    • The number of people that wear pearº rings might also vary depending on where you live. There may be fewer people wearing them in small towns than in cities, for instance.
    • If you’re single and looking for a real-life connection, the best way to find out if it works is to try it out.
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Section 4 of 4:

Where did pearº rings come from?

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  1. Thursday is an app for Android and IOS that only works on Thursdays, encouraging people to set up an in-person date that night. [17] What do pearº and Thursday have in common? They aim to encourage singles to meet in relaxed, pressure-free environments outside of dating apps. [18]
    • Thursday was created and launched in 2021 by George Rawlings, who previously developed the Honeypot dating app. Both Thursday and pearº are part of Honeypot Dating LTD.
    • The UK company also has a Thursday Events app for IOS and Android , which is an event platform for singles to meet and connect. [19]
  2. 7 out of 10 online daters believe it’s very common for others to lie to look more desirable, and 45% said their online dating experiences made them feel more frustrated than hopeful. Pearº rings try to remedy this disruption that online dating has caused to traditional ways of meeting romantic partners. [20]
    • Online dating might be especially hard for young women. Over 50% of women aged 18 to 34 have experienced harassment or received unwanted sexually explicit messages or photos.
    • Meeting someone in person reduces the chance of getting catfished or ghosted, and you get a more accurate picture of what they look like, what their energy is like, and who they are. [21]
  3. In 2013, MY Single World created a silicone bracelet for singles that tried to eliminate online dating. [22] They’re no longer in business, but because pearº rings are available globally and advertised on platforms like Instagram and TikTok , it may make them more appealing to singles around the world. [23]
    • For LGBTQ+ communities, pearº’s signaling technique may be old news. LGBTQ+ individuals have used symbols like handkerchiefs and flowers to signify their relationship status for decades. [24]
    • Women in Irish communities also used to wear Claddagh rings on their right hand with the heart facing out to show others they’re single and looking for love. [25]
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      Tips

      • Purchase of the ring might also get you an invitation to PearFest. [26] PearFest is the world’s largest singles’ festival, which happened last in southwest London in July 2023. [27]
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      • Pearº recommends adding a pear emoji (🍐) to your social media bio to indicate that you’re single. [28]
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      • Pearº rings became more well-known in the UK when Then Great British Bake Off host Allison Hammond showed hers off on Good Morning Britain . [29]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://pearring.co/
      2. ↑ https://pearring.co/pages/lgbtqia
      3. ↑ https://pearring.co/pages/lgbtqia
      4. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/relationships/a44566954/can-social-experiment-help-me-find-love/
      5. ↑ https://pearring.co/
      6. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202209/9-things-that-can-make-a-man-seem-creepy
      7. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/relationships/a44566954/can-social-experiment-help-me-find-love/
      8. ↑ https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/dating-app-alternatives
      9. ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1948550619866189
      1. ↑ https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/meeting-people-in-real-life-without-using-dating-apps
      2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/childhood-emotional-neglect/202307/the-fear-of-rejection-can
      3. ↑ https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/singles-pear-ring-help-dating-relationship-find-the-one-b1101919.html
      4. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/relationships/a44566954/can-social-experiment-help-me-find-love/
      5. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/31/a-friend-said-it-gave-them-hope-four-ways-to-find-love-without-the-apps
      6. ↑ https://pearring.co/
      7. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/relationships/a44566954/can-social-experiment-help-me-find-love/
      8. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-61254921
      9. ↑ https://www.getthursday.com/
      10. ↑ https://www.getthursday.com/
      11. ↑ https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/02/06/the-virtues-and-downsides-of-online-dating/
      12. ↑ https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/meeting-people-in-real-life-without-using-dating-apps
      13. ↑ https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/09/01/wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-bracelets-advertise-youre-single/
      14. ↑ https://pearring.co/pages/lgbtqia
      15. ↑ https://www.lgbtculturalheritage.com/secret-symbols
      16. ↑ https://www.irishfamilyhistorycentre.com/article/everything-about-claddagh-ring/
      17. ↑ https://pearring.co/pages/lgbtqia
      18. ↑ https://www.timeout.com/london/news/a-singles-only-festival-is-coming-to-london-in-july-051923
      19. ↑ https://pearring.co/
      20. ↑ https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/what-pear-ring-social-experiment-26586243

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