to wonder what the point of parent apps is? Mush, Peanut, Frolo

[beytree]

I’ve been on these 3 apps for a few months/weeks (are there any others?)

I’m just wondering what the point of them is? I live somewhere that’s a bit remote, but it’s a good-sized town with other places nearby (just not near a city) and there are quite a few people on the apps.

I’ve chatted with a few but it always fizzles out, none of them seem to want to meet at a local playgroup when I suggest it (one did but never got round to it).

I must have chatted to about 10 so far. I just don’t see the point of endlessly chatting on social media, there have already been too many times in my child’s life when they’ve turned away from the telly to look at me and my head’s down, scrolling through fb on my phone as this is how most places advertise their kids events, playgroups info etc.

Mush does put out call-outs to get mums to host a session at their house/the park etc and I’ve thought of doing this, just snowed under with other stuff at the mo.

So am I doing something wrong?

I think it’s a numbers game and the more you engage with people the more likely the chances are of you getting something from it. I agree though as in real life there are people that can be flaky on there (or maybe they are just busy too) Go to the events. I ran one once and met some good friends there.

I think it's fear. Most people join wanting to meet up but actually meeting up with a stranger is nerve wracking.

I was on Mush. The option to search for similar dms has gone. At 48 I hoped to find similar age but none it seems!

I tried this sort of stuff out, met up with a couple of people but never got together again and I let the whole phase fizzle out when I found a couple of classes and groups where friendships came about more naturally.

You’re not doing anything wrong at all, Darlingcoffee is right - its numbers and luck. Plus, like you say, people join up with good intentions then other life stuff gets in the way.

I use mush and have made a couple friends from it but agree most people don't really intend to meet up.
I just casually use it and don't expect to much

I've made a few friend on them, a couple of times I've met with people and never again but I assume that's normal.

Does nobody in your area suggest group meet ups, like the park for a walk or something? There's a good turn out for those here.

You asked for other, I think I also used mummy social.

I went to one Mush meet up. I was the only one who went apart from the organiser who it turned out I had zero in common with and barely spoke. Didn’t bother again and have deleted the apps now. Since my DC have started school I’ve made a good bunch of parent friends naturally.

I actually activated a meet up for next week and nothing!!
It was for a ddog walk on the beach!!

Thanks all, good to know I'm not totally barking up the wrong tree. There aren't any mush meet-ups in our area, I will try and host one if I ever get chance, and I'll try mummy social too. Thanks again.

I think it's just luck. It took me a couple of weeks before I even spoke to anyone because I was so nervous - I met up with quite a few mums for coffee/lunch/playgroups. That was 8 months ago and still see a few of them almost every week. Don't let your experience so far deter you x

I've been using peanut since I first found out I was pregnant, I unfortunately had a miscarriage and that shattered my world.
I found a great support and network of women on peanut who have been through the same thing and I've connected with people who are going through the same thing.
This is been a serious help for me and so happy to have a place like peanut to share those things