Stitch is for Those Over 50 is Growing in Wake of COVID

Dating and social app Stitch has seen a growth of new users as people around the world began to isolate at home. The app is geared towards adults over 50 who are looking for community as well as a date.

Stitch is a non-profit focused on helping older adults address loneliness and social isolation, a growing problem as the virus continues to spread. Stitch notes that if you’re over 60 and experiencing loneliness, it has the same negative impact on health outcomes as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And while Stitch markets itself primarily as a social app for making friends, it also allows people to meet potential dates.

Older adults are most impacted by the coronavirus and are reaching out to new people online more than ever. Stitch has seen its membership rise to 150,000 members in the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

One popular aspect of the app is the activities portal, where members can set up groups based on their interests and other members can join. For example, one member set up a ukulele players group, and others joined to be part of virtual events, lessons, and online discussions. Users can join from anywhere in the world.

Stitch members also hold online community gatherings, some as large as 200 people, where members can discuss specific topics or share what is on their minds. They can also break out into smaller groups to have more intimate online discussions. Some members have been talking about the impact that COVID is having on their mental health and have expressed gratitude for the community.

Members are often highlighted by the company. On their website, Stitch listed “community champions” from all over the world who are available as a resource for other members to connect with and help spearhead their own community groups.

Stitch offers a range of membership options, from the free “public” plan which includes participation in a limited number of online events. The “Community” membership ($60/year which can be paid monthly) allows members to create new local groups and message other users, and the “Community Plus” membership ($120 per year) allows members to create public and private groups and browse 20 profiles per day. The highest tier membership of “Community Manager” ($180 per year) allows members to set up worldwide groups with unlimited members and browse up to 40 profiles per day.   

The company also noted on its website that in 2019, 166 new Stitch groups were created, 2,965 events were held, and these took place in 586 locations around the world.