Would You Wear a Ring That Says You’re Single?

In a stand against dating apps, online company The World’s Biggest Social Experiment is launching a new concept blowing up globally for singles who want to meet IRL. Basically, it’s a ring for single people.

“pearº is a small ring that makes it easy to know who is single around you allowing for new connections to happen naturally,” reads an Instagram caption from news outlet, Pubity. “The opposite of an engagement ring so singles don’t have to rely on dating apps.”

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But in a world where we’re more okay with being single than ever before, how do we feel about a ring that shows you’re ‘available’? And, will it really foster “natural” meet-cutes?

Let’s get into it.

Firstly, Are Dating Apps Out?

The entire premise of the “pearº” ring is that people don’t want to go on dating apps anymore.

TBH, I can’t argue with this. Being a single person myself, I’m kinda off them. I swipe for a bit and then I get bored. Sometimes, I’ll strike up a conversation with someone cute but it trails off.

As it turns out, many of my single friends and acquaintances feel the same.

I was having a conversation with a male colleague of mine the other day about dating apps. The consensus was — he isn’t into them anymore, either. “I’ve been on a few dates over the years, but nothing ever really comes of them,” he told.

I agreed. While I’ve enjoyed going on dating apps — having had some great conversations, unexpected adventures and even some pretty fun short-lived flings, I’ve never caught true feelings for someone I’ve met through an app.

“I think it’s because I can’t really tell what someone is like through their profile,” he reasons, as we unpack why dating apps haven’t worked for us. “Being attracted to someone is so much more of a ‘vibe’, rather than how they look and chat online. You can’t sense someone’s presence via text.”

I can totally empathise with this sentiment. As someone who identifies as pan/bisexual, I don’t consider myself to have a strict physical type. And, when I think back on the people I’ve had meaningful relationships with — they’ve all been people I’ve met IRL and might not’ve swiped right on.

I asked my 4.3k Instagram following how they were feeling about dating apps right now. Of the 403 followers who responded, 34 per cent said they’d rather stay single than use the ring, while 39 per cent admitted to not wanting to use them, but feeling compelled because they’re “horny af”.

And while they might still be useful for a booty call, a few people responded saying that they felt drained by the process of trying to meet someone great on an app.

“I have just deleted my Hinge account because it’s been leaking my energy,” a girl who works at the organic store across the road from my house replied.

“I just cannot seem to make my profile reflect who I am IRL…so it just feels confronting/draining/triggering TBH. Taking a break from the dating apps and filling my own cup rightttt uppp; then I might start up again when the timing feels more aligned.”

23 per cent said they use apps because that’s how they’ve become familiar with dating in this date and age, while a mere 5 per cent said that they love using dating apps because they love meeting new people.

And this is where pearº comes in.

What Is the Social Experiment All About?

Historically, a ring has signified being ‘taken’ — such as an engagement or wedding ring. Not only are these symbols of commitment to your partner, but also to other people that you aren’t open for business — so to speak.

pearº hopes to switch this tradition on its head, using the same concept for single people to pick each other out of the crowd. According to Vogue, “76 per cent of people are open to being chatted up in real life”, but how do you know who is single or not?

By wearing a pearº ring, you show other single people that you’re single, which then means that they can essentially come up and ask you out.

“Can’t we just accept single life sometimes sucks and is sometimes great and that’s that?” my fellow single friend Hayley asked when I told her about this new social movement.

I get her frustration. When people meet beautiful, single women, their first question is often something like “Why are you single!?”, as though we must be doing something wrong.

In 2023, we’re definitely living in a time where it’s much more widely known that being in a relationship doesn’t always equal happiness. But then, it can also go the other way, where the celebration of singledom can sometimes feel a little performative.

“I think society keeps trying to find ways of being like ‘celebrate single life!! It’s great, freeing, empowering’, but TBH it all feels a little forced and patronising,” Hayley says.

“We don’t need any kind of sartorial statement or day to make us feel better, or show others how ‘nonchalant’ we are about being in a relationship. Not to mention that it’s just another way businesses profit off our emotions.”

So, Will Singles Wear It?

57 per cent of the 403 respondents to my IG story agree with Hayley and reckon that no, they wouldn’t wear a ring to show their singleness. In a modern dating world, where people aren’t afraid to be upfront and communicative, to me, it seems unlikely that this social movement will take off.

“Someone can just ask me out,” a follower, Ingrid, says. “Whatever happened to giving someone cute your number? Who cares if they’re not single!? They can choose whether to message you or not.”

Meanwhile, 22 per cent think it’s a great idea because “that way, people will know when to ask me out”, and, interestingly, 20 per cent would definitely wear it, but only to celebrate singleton — not to attract babes.

However, according to the ring company’s website, they’re 91 per cent sold out. That means, there must quite a few people in the world right now, wearing this new pearº ring, and hoping that other single babes with notice, and know what it means.

To get people hooked, pearº is hosting the World’s First Singles’ Festival, and only ring holders are invited. It looks like they really are trying to start a movement.

My take? If being single isn’t for you, you can join the movement here. If you want to keep doing you and hopefully meet some babes along the way — I don’t know if this ring is for you. That said, I’d definitely encourage every single babe to get comfy asking cute people out IRL. Go to that coffee shop and strike up a convo with the hot barista. Write your number down on a piece of paper and pass it to the babe in your office you’re too afraid to chat to. Ask that friend you’ve always had a crush on out for a drink. Old-school courting is coming into fashion, Bridgerton-style, and preparation is key.