The US has about 20 million single parents. Most of them are underserved by mainstream dating platforms, according to Match Group. That number alone suggests a mismatch between what exists and what is needed.
Dating apps work for some people. The question is whether they work for people raising children on their own, dealing with custody schedules, and holding together a household. The answer depends on which platform, which features, and how much patience a person has.
A 2024 SSRS poll found that 61% of adults believe relationships that start on dating sites are as successful as those that begin in person. Pew Research Center data shows that 1 in 10 partnered adults met through a dating app. For adults under 30, that figure climbs to 20 to 24%.
The numbers suggest apps produce real relationships. But single parents operate under constraints that most users do not.
Time as Currency
Single parents face a scheduling problem that other daters do not. Match Group research found that 27% of single parents say coordinating schedules typically prevents them from going on dates. Stir, a dating app built for this group, added a feature called Stir Time that lets users display their available hours to matches directly.
The data on time investment is revealing. Stir research shows 37% of single parents spend 1 to 2 hours per week on online dating, while 34% spend 3 or more hours. When asked what they would do with an extra two hours weekly, 45% said they would use it for dating.
The Ghosting Problem
Match Group found that most single parents were ghosted after a first date when using mainstream apps. That finding prompted them to launch Stir in 2022, a platform designed around the reality that having kids is often treated as a dealbreaker elsewhere.
The issue is disclosure. Licensed marriage and family therapist Christene Lozano told Parade that sharing parental status early saves time for both parties. If someone will not date a parent, better to know that before investing weeks of conversation.
Research from dating app Even, cited by Hello Magazine, found that 1 in 6 single people in Britain would not date a single parent at all. They cited concerns about emotional baggage and complicated relationships with exes. On the other hand, 25% of respondents said single parents have qualities they actively look for, including independence, reliability, and selflessness.
Platform Options
Some apps now cater directly to this population. Stir has partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to provide safety guidance specific to single parents. The app uses a team to monitor profiles and review reported accounts manually.
According to Mindbodygreen, 59% of Match.com users are single parents. That concentration suggests parents may find more compatible matches on established platforms than on newer, smaller ones.
Bumble offers filters for users to specify where they stand on wanting children. The app also provides video chat and voice call features, which let users screen matches without hiring a babysitter or meeting a stranger in person. Video dates fit better into the hours between bedtime and exhaustion.
Safety Concerns
Federal Trade Commission data shows reported losses to romance scams reached $1.14 billion, with a median loss of $2,000 per victim. That makes romance scams the highest-loss category for imposter fraud.
Reports in 2024 and 2025 indicate some offenders specifically target single parents through dating apps. Parents should separate their early dating activity from their children’s environment and use platforms with identity verification.
Tinder introduced Face Check in October 2025, a facial verification feature required for new users in 7 countries and California. Early results showed a 60% decrease in exposure to potential bad actors. A February 2024 pilot found a 67% increase in matches for users with verified profiles.
IDScan research from September 2024 found that 79% of US college students are not using dating apps, with nearly half citing safety as their reason. Single parents have even more at stake.
When to Introduce Children
Stir research found that 61% of single parents wait up to 3 months before introducing a new partner to their kids. Another 28% said they would wait up to a year.
Experts from Utah State University Extension recommend waiting 6 to 9 months, or until the relationship feels stable and committed. Rushing introductions can cause confusion or attachment problems for children. The goal is protecting kids from a revolving door of adults.
Relationship therapist Dr. Christie Kederian told Parade that dating in 2025 is becoming more intentional. More people are going to therapy and bringing self-awareness into how they date. For single parents, intentionality matters even more. The stakes extend beyond personal disappointment.
The Slowdown Trend
Bumble’s 2024 research found that 31% of singles on the platform are actively slow dating, meaning they are being deliberate about how often they go out. This trend benefits parents who cannot sustain a high frequency of dates anyway.
The same research found 58% of singles were more open about their mental health with potential partners. Honesty about mental health pairs well with honesty about parental responsibilities.
The Verdict
Dating apps are a viable tool for single parents under certain conditions. The platform matters. Apps with robust verification, scheduling tools, and a user base that includes other parents produce better results than general-purpose alternatives.
Transparency about having children filters out incompatible matches early. Safety features protect against scams that specifically target parents. Video chat options reduce the need for in-person meetings during the screening phase.
The data supports cautious optimism. Apps work when they accommodate the constraints of parenting. They fail when they treat single parents like every other user. The difference between success and frustration often comes down to choosing the right platform and setting honest expectations about time.
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