Story by Mackenzie Grimes
What’s keeping your Prince Charming from running into you on the sidewalk? What’s stopping you from meeting the girl of your dreams at the bank?
Apparently, a MY Single Band.
The colorful, Livestrong-esque silicone bracelet is a growing trend among single men and women who hope to meet other singles in everyday life.
Claiming to supersede online dating sites, MY Single Bands are designed to subtly advertise, “Hey, I’m single,” to other hopeful bachelors and bachelorettes.
The small startup was founded by a young couple, Rina Mardahl and Rob Young (abbreviated as MY), who met by chance on a vacation in Spain.
In an adult world of 9-to-5 jobs and middle-aged bachelors, MY Single Bands could be received very well.
But the young, good-looking, aspiring generation doesn’t believe the bands fill a need that exists.
Drake students felt that an important question to raise is the bracelets’ popularity.
Most students felt apprehensive about the possibility of wearing the bracelet if the practice wasn’t widespread.
“People should wear them, sure. I just wouldn’t,” says first-year Adam Ebel. “I don’t want to come off as desperate. I’m not. Just . . . single.”
Young, co-founder of MY Single Band, acknowledged the stigma surrounding the advertising of one’s current relationship (or lack thereof).
However, according to an article in Glamour Magazin, Young believes that “these concerns will disappear” as the bands “become widely accepted,” similar to society’s adoption of online dating.
The resounding response was that the message a single bracelet communicates is too vague, and the bracelet may convey different messages based on each wearer
For example, the band does nothing to signify the wearer’s preferences.
How can you know if the single you’re approaching is interested in meeting the opposite gender, or his or her own?
The assorted color options give no hints.
First-year Adam Ussher agreed that the bracelet might not attract the kind of attention the single wants.
“Even if I’m single, interested in being in a relationship … I wouldn’t want just random people approaching me,” Usser said.
Obviously, the band won’t be successful unless its purpose is widely understood.
Until people are able to recognize it and distinguish it from the millions of other cheap, brightly colored rubber bracelets on the market, it’s unlikely to fulfill the goal of bringing singles together.
MY Single Band isn’t the first , either.
PolarBearBands.com sells colored wristbands for singles to help “break the ice” (because it’s a polar bear, see) for only $5, rather than $9.
So, perhaps the movement towards physical IDs for singles is growing, but it’s a long way from replacing classic methods like speed-dating and pick-up lines.
And what about the distortion of the product’s purpose?
“I think people would use it for the wrong thing,” first-year Nate Chamberlin points out.
The bracelets could rapidly change from an easy way to connect shy singles to a quick way to connect singles looking for a hook-up.
In any case, you probably won’t see many MY Single Bands around campus any time soon.
If you’re hoping to meet someone, you could always default to the old-fashioned way: actual social interaction.
