| Headquarters | 20 W 22nd St Ste 301, New York City, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | No |
| Language | English |
| Founded | March 2008 (age 18) in Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Owner | Bustle Digital Group |
| Founder | Jill Smokler |
| Editor | Kate Auletta |
| Revenue | $6.8 million (2025) |
| Current status | Active |
| Native clients | Web browser |
Scary Mommy is a website that produces content targeting mothers, specifically focusing on parenting, motherhood, current events, and pop culture. The site is owned by Bustle Digital Group, and the website is based in New York City.[1] Scary Mommy began as Jill Smokler's personal blog. The site peaked around 2009-2015.
History
Scary Mommy was founded in March 2008 by Jill Smokler in Baltimore, Maryland. A companion book titled Confessions of a Scary Mommy was published by Smokler in April 2012 and became an instant bestseller. Scary Mommy Nation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established by Smokler in 2013, which raised money for families who weren't able to afford a Thanksgiving dinner. In 2014, the website and its service earned its first Webby Award in the "Family/Parenting" category, which was then followed by additional Webby Awards in 2015 and 2018.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
In February 2015, the website was acquired by Some Spiders Studios, with Smokler staying on as chief content officer for the next three years. Smokler left Scary Mommy in May 2018. In 2020, Some Spider Studios acquired Fatherly, and in 2021, Bustle Digital Group acquired Some Spider.[1][9][10][11]
Content
Scary Mommy originated as a parenting and motherhood blog by Jill Smokler. The blog incorporated the Scary Mommy Confessions feature, which enabled users to share anonymous messages related to motherhood. Scary Mommy also launched a channel on Snapchat's Discover feature in 2018.[12][13]
References
- ^ "Scary Mommy founder Jill Smokler leaves company to explore next life stage". Baltimore Sun. Archived 2023-03-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- ^ Rosen, Jill (April 3, 2012). "Baltimore's Scary Mommy debuts scary new book". The Baltimore Sun. Archived November 30, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ Rosenthal, Dave (April 9, 2012). "Confessions of a Scary Mommy". The Baltimore Sun. Archived December 4, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ "Best Sellers: Combined Hardcover & Paperback Nonfiction: Sunday, April 29th 2012". The New York Times. April 29, 2012. Archived August 13, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ Kim, Susanna (November 12, 2013). "'Scary Mommy' Blogger Raises Money to Give Away Thanksgiving Meals". ABC News. Archived July 14, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ "Scary Mommy". Webby Awards. Archived July 11, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ "Scary Mommy". Webby Awards. Archived November 12, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ "Scary Mommy". Webby Awards. Archived August 13, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ Britto, Brittany (May 16, 2018). "Scary Mommy founder Jill Smokler leaves company to explore next life stage". The Baltimore Sun. Archived September 21, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ "'Fatherly' Acquired by Some Spider, Pools Parenting Resources". Archived 2022-11-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ "Bustle Digital Buys Scary Mommy's Parent Company for $150 Million in Stock". 21 July 2021. Archived 14 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ Precourt, Stephanie (December 14, 2011). "Most controversial mom blogs". SheKnows. Archived January 2, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
- ^ Brusie, Chaunie (September 7, 2015). "The most shocking Scary Mommy confessions ever". SheKnows. Archived January 2, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2018.