The Right Stuff? Peter Thiel-Backed Conservative Dating App Is a Bust – Yahoo News
The conservative dating app The Right Stuff looks to be struggling to bring in users, according to a report by The Daily Beast.
After three months after the Peter Thiel-backed app’s launch, there hasn’t been a tidal wave of people joining the platform, which markets itself as “a dating app for the Right wing.”
Even though Thiel, a gay MAGA tech billionaire, financed it, the app bars mention of gay relationships, according to Gizmodo.
Data from the analytics firm Sensor Tower shows that the app had 40,000 downloads in October, but between November 1 and December 20, there were only 11,000, the Beast reports. The outlet also cited Appfigures which estimated 44,000 downloads in October and then 17,000 in the last seven weeks.
The app was co-founded by former aides to Donald Trump John McEntee, Daniel Huff, and Isaac Stalzer. McEntee serves as the company’s CEO.
Young conservatives have blasted the app, including its verification process — a reportedly tedious one to create an element of exclusiveness as well as to prevent trolls from joining.
The Right Stuff did not return requests for comment to the Beast or Gizmodo.
The app has two and a half stars in Apple’s App Store with 1,200 reviews.
“Have to admit, I was super eager to make account and find someone that had the same views as I. Not a big fan of the ‘invite only’ thing. Makes me feel like trying to enter this super elite secret group where only the cool kids can enter,” one reviewer wrote.
Another reviewer wrote, “I’ll find myself a spouse at a shady gas station long before these slow pokes get to my account, much less actually let me in.”
They added: “Got a notification from the app saying Merry Christmas and then proceed to remind me I am still single. Maybe because you keep me behind an invite wall you dumb hags.”
The Beast reports some of the comments appear to be fake, while others complain about the app’s request to access their phone contacts.
The Right Stuff isn’t available yet on Google Play.
It also didn’t have the easiest start. Not only was there another dating service with the same name, but the app was mocked for its writing prompts for its users, the Beast reports. Some were “a random fact I love about America” and “January 6th was…”