These days, the world seems crazier and edgier than ever. There’s always another event, another show, another digital distraction… It’s hard to fit anything in young in our busy lives – let alone a date! That’s where a new viral date is trying to change the game! It lets you do a month’s worth of work in a single evening, and TikTok users around the world eagerly incorporate it into their weekly schedules.
Welcome to the world of Stack Dating.
What is Stack Dating?
If you’re old enough to remember the ’90s, Stack Dating is like when a sitcom character would schedule multiple dates at the exact same time, either by accident or because (let’s be honest, it was always “the one” ) thought he was slick enough to pull it off. Spoiler alert: it never was.
The idea is to schedule long-hour dates with multiple possibilities, all on the same day (not at the same time, Chandler/Theo/Will/Zack!). a lunch meeting, then an evening dinner or drinks. Others support the original method of scheduling dates exactly with each other (if you imagine your phone calendar filling up with multiple one-hour dates, you’ll begin to see where Stack Dating got its name.)
Why Stack Dating?
The idea behind Stack Dating is to maximize your dating potential when you’re short on time. It’s an approach to dating that emphasizes chemistry over romance. Vibes over butterflies.
It also provides a simpler, lower pressure way to date. No fancy dinners or off-the-wall first date ideas – just an hour blocked out to sit, chat and get a feel for the other person. And if you I am doing decide to pack it all in, piling up your dates means you have no choice but to do it once – then you’re just trying your fancy date-to-date self.
When you’re single, it can sometimes feel like you’re betting your entire romantic future on a single date. But Stack Dating can help reduce that stress and potential frustration. Every first date is no longer an all or nothing affair. You have a whole night of possibilities! First date a bust? Let’s go to the next one!
The pros and cons of stacking dating
There are some natural positives to Stack Dating, many of which we’ve already talked about. Less stress. Less time to prepare. Less time spent trying to fit a date into your schedule. It can also help you focus on a date and allow you to narrow down the person across from you so you can decide if it’s a relationship worth exploring in the afternoon or the hour.
…And this is also where some of the downsides come in.
When you only allow someone an hour to show their whole self…is that fair to them? If you’re on Date One but thinking about how Date Three has those really dreamy eyes, are you giving your current date all the attention they deserve?
Two-thirds of romantic couples they say they knew their partner as a friend before they started dating. And the average length of these pre-romance friendships? Twenty two months! This shows us that many relationships form, change and develop over time. They don’t just appear – nor do they become apparent after an hour-long appointment.
How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Stack Dating
One way to make sure you’re giving your dates the benefit of the doubt is to use Stack Dating as a test bed. If, after an hour is up, the person across from you is a walking red flag… maybe don’t call them back.
But if you had a good time, some fun conversation – even if no sparks flew – keep them in the mix! Give them a second round (maybe a more traditional date next time!) It’s rare for someone to blow your mind the moment they walk through the door, and even rarer for those relationships to last.
So what do you think? Is Stack Dating something to try the next time you find yourself with some tempting matches?
