In an era where dating apps have become synonymous with burnout, a new platform is taking a different approach. Single Social Club, launching in Tampa Bay, is asking singles to stop making every interaction about finding a date and instead focus on living life around other singles. Created by professional matchmaker Felicity G. Morgan, founder of Assured Matchmaking, and co-founded with technology lead Greg Miceli, the platform aims to address the exhaustion many feel from endless swiping and superficial judgments.
"I kept hearing the same thing," Morgan said. "'I'm taking a break from dating. I'm focusing on myself. I'm tired of the apps.' And I thought, okay. Focus on yourself. But why should focusing on yourself mean sitting at home?" This question became the foundation of Single Social Club, which removes swiping entirely. Instead, members choose from over 157 activity options, from kayaking to pickleball, and the technology finds overlaps in availability and interests to form small groups of approximately six to eight people.
The platform also introduces code names like Bee, Fox, or Moon for initial interactions, allowing members to connect without immediately sharing personal information. A verification process is in place, though the founders acknowledge that no system can guarantee behavior. "We wanted people to have some breathing room," Morgan said. "You don't need to know someone's entire dating résumé before you've even bowled a frame with them."
This approach comes at a time when popular dating formats like Pop the Balloon and Love Is Blind highlight extremes of instant rejection and connection without seeing each other. Morgan believes both point to a larger issue: singles often eliminate potential matches before having enough information. "We've gotten incredibly efficient at disqualifying each other," she said. "A picture. Height. Shoes. A job title. One sentence in a profile. Sometimes we're deciding what somebody isn't before we've had an opportunity to experience who they are."
Single Social Club is not just for those seeking relationships; it's also for people coming out of breakups, newly divorced parents, or anyone wanting to expand their social circle. Research on dating-app burnout supports the need for such an alternative. "Sometimes you don't need another date," Morgan said. "Sometimes you need to go live. Go do something you've always wanted to try. Meet some people. Maybe you make a friend. Maybe you discover something about yourself. Maybe somebody catches your attention. And maybe nobody does."
If a connection does form, members can privately indicate interest, and if mutual, Assured Matchmaking can optionally help explore what comes next. The platform avoids public rejection or popularity counters. For Miceli, the technology's success means getting people off their screens. "Most technology is designed to keep you on the screen," he said. "We're building something that's supposed to help you get off the screen."
Single Social Club is a web app accessible via browser, with mobile users able to save it to their home screen. Starting in Tampa Bay, the founders plan to expand as interest grows. Introductory access is $1 for 30 days, then renews at $20 per month for Basic membership, which includes up to five activity opportunities. For Morgan, the invitation is simple: "Don't join because I promised you're going to meet the love of your life. I can't promise that, and neither can anybody else. Join because there's something you've been wanting to do. Go do it. Let life surprise you from there."
