ORLANDO, Fla. — Moving to Florida can mean learning a new commute, finding a favorite Publix and discovering that “near Orlando” can describe somewhere an hour away.
It can also mean rebuilding your social life from scratch.
Whether you recently moved to Central Florida for work, arrived for college or simply decided to start dating again, meeting someone in a new city can feel intimidating. Online conversations about moving and looking for dates or connections increased 38% compared with last year, according to data shared by Hinge.
The dating app also reports that 56% of Gen Z daters have allowed fear of rejection to stop them from pursuing a match.
Hinge asked Logan Ury, the company’s lead relationship scientist and author of “How to Not Die Alone,” for advice on moving conversations beyond the app. Although the recommendations are national, several translate naturally to dating in Florida.
Here are seven ways to make meeting someone new feel a little easier.
1. Treat the move as a fresh start
A new city can provide an opportunity to establish different habits rather than repeating an old routine.
Ury recommends creating a specific dating goal for the remainder of the year. That could mean going on one date each month, joining a recreational sports league or attending local events where meeting new people happens naturally.
For someone new to Central Florida, that could also mean exploring a different neighborhood each weekend, visiting a farmers market or signing up for a group centered on running, gaming, books or outdoor activities.
The goal does not have to be finding a long-term partner immediately. It can simply be becoming more comfortable putting yourself in situations where a connection could happen.
2. Give people an easy reason to message you
A profile should offer more than a list of interests. Ury recommends adding conversational “hooks” that make it easy for someone to respond.
Instead of writing that you enjoy trying restaurants, ask people to name the best Cuban sandwich in Central Florida. If you love the outdoors, ask which Florida spring you should visit next. Theme park fans could invite matches to defend their favorite ride.
Other Florida-friendly debates practically write themselves: Gulf Coast or Atlantic beaches? Sunrise or sunset? Are flip-flops appropriate everywhere?
The answer is less important than giving someone a comfortable opening.
3. Take a few precautions before meeting
Hinge recommends looking for its Selfie Verification badge, which indicates that the person has completed the app’s identity-checking process. The company says people with verified profiles go on 167% more dates than users without them.
A brief phone or video call can also help both people feel more comfortable before meeting.
When it is time for the first date, choose a public location, arrange your own transportation and let someone you trust know where you will be. Verification tools can add reassurance, but they should not replace basic safety precautions.
4. Make the date an activity
A first date can quickly feel like a job interview when two people sit across a table and exchange questions about work, family and five-year plans.
Ury suggests adding an element of play instead.
Florida offers plenty of possibilities: play miniature golf, browse a weekend market, visit a museum, attend a comedy show or get ice cream after walking through a public park. Even exploring a neighborhood that is new to both people can take some pressure off the conversation.
An activity also gives both people something to discuss beyond themselves and may reveal more about their personalities than a rehearsed answer ever could.
5. Be curious instead of trying to impress
Someone new to Florida does not need to pretend to have the area figured out.
Ury says genuine interest creates a stronger connection than attempting to appear perfectly polished. Ask thoughtful questions and listen closely to the answers.
If your date has lived here longer, ask about the local restaurant, beach town or hidden attraction they would show someone visiting for the first time. If you are both newcomers, compare the discoveries and Florida oddities you have encountered so far.
Curiosity makes a conversation feel collaborative instead of performative.
6. Lower the stakes
The purpose of a first date is not to determine whether you have met your future spouse. It is to learn more about another person and decide whether you would enjoy seeing them again.
That distinction can make rejection feel less personal and help people remain present during the date.
Ury also cautions against expecting an immediate, dramatic spark. Some relationships develop gradually as two people become more comfortable around each other.
A pleasant conversation that ends without fireworks is not necessarily a failed date.
7. Look for consistent effort
Hinge has been tracking what it calls “chalant dating,” the opposite of pretending not to care.
The approach encourages people to communicate their interest, make plans and accept the vulnerability that comes with showing effort. Hinge recently introduced a Signals Badge intended to recognize users who consistently demonstrate thoughtfulness and follow-through.
Pay attention to whether a match asks questions, remembers details and helps confirm plans. Someone does not need to arrange an elaborate evening to demonstrate interest.
Reliability can say considerably more than a clever opening line.
Dating in a new city will always involve some uncertainty. But it can also provide an opportunity to explore unfamiliar places, meet people outside your usual circle and decide how you want to approach this next chapter.
In a state with no shortage of activities and no shortage of opinions about beaches, theme parks and Publix subs, finding something to talk about may be the easiest part.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group
