Geelong Advertiser

New group for singles to mingle

- OLIVIA SHYING

SINGLES swiping right only to meet Mr or Ms Wrong, are being urged to go back to basics and socialise in large groups to meet “the one”.

While the internet has drasticall­y altered the dating landscape, a Geelong woman is encouragin­g singles to put down their phone and hang out with other friends in a bid to find love.

Relationsh­ip expert Associate Professor Gery Karantzas said singles often mistakenly believed using apps like Tinder would give them a greater chance of finding a partner.

“The success rate is no higher than meeting face-to-face, all it does is increase the pool of potential people,” Mr Karantzas said.

“In reality, many young people still aren’t using Tinder at all.”

Geelong’s Sarah Host said being single was increasing­ly isolating and lonely for young people who felt their only chance of meeting someone was through the internet.

The keen traveller yearned for the days when she lived overseas and had the chance to meet friends, and potential lovers, over fun activities.

“About 12 months ago I was single and using Tinder like everyone else. I was so frustrated with the communicat­ions I was having with people ... I was just wasting my time,” she said.

Desperate to find a solution Ms Host establishe­d Organic Fusions, a social activity group which provides singles the opportunit­y to mingle while hiking or lawn bowling.

“It is definitely harder to meet people in social settings now. You just have to go to a cafe or a restaurant to see that everyone is looking at their phones,” Ms Host said.

Organic Fusions participan­ts can join in up to 30 events each month and meet with other singles.

For more informatio­n go to organicfus­ions.com.au

 ?? Picture: ALAN BARBER ?? EVENTS HOST: Sarah Host, pictured playing lawn bowls with Ben Dekker, has establishe­d Organic Fusions, which offers group activities for singles to meet other singles.
Picture: ALAN BARBER EVENTS HOST: Sarah Host, pictured playing lawn bowls with Ben Dekker, has establishe­d Organic Fusions, which offers group activities for singles to meet other singles.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia