Bizarre Australian dating trend that is making young people want to head overseas

There is a strange dating phenomenon happening across the country, and its enough to make young, single Aussies consider heading overseas.

There’s a trend that seems to be emerging in Australia’s dating scene, and it’s one that has women ready to pack up and head overseas to avoid.

If you have been scrolling on TikTok recently, its likely you may have come across more than one video of someone lamenting about how hard it is to date in Australia and how different the experience is overseas.

Seljan Ozan is one of the those people, with the 24-year-old recently taking to TikTok to share her frustrations with her 69,000 followers.

“OK but genuine question, is there something in the air in Australia?” she asked in the video.

“I travel a lot, whether it is interstate or overseas and [there is a] dramatic difference of how men talk and carry themselves in different countries [compared to] Australia.”

Seljan said that men in Australia often play hard to get and “want to be chased”, whereas in America, for example, she finds men are a lot more forward and more likely to make the first move.

Her video quickly gathered hundreds of comments, many from other women agreeing with her.

Seljan took to TikTok to air her frustrations with the dating scene in Australia. Picture: @lifeofpineapplee/TikTok

Her comments struck a chord with hundreds of women. Picture: @seljanozan/Instagram

One commenter said that unless she is the one to plan dates, she doesn’t go on them, adding that it was “so sad”.

Another claimed she had “never” been approached by a romantic interest in Australia but noticed it is something that “always” happens when she visits other countries.

“I was not raised in Australia and I noticed this absurd issue the second I landed here,” one said.

Seljan lives in Sydney but travels interstate and abroad frequently and told news.com.au that, in her experience, it is “so much easier” to date overseas.

She also said she experienced a bit of backlash to her video from Aussie men who claimed it was people like her with “high expectations” that made them not want to approach women.

However, she claimed a lot of what she expects is just the “bare minimum” when it comes to dating.

“We see videos of people overseas that literally get sent a massive bouquet of flowers to their house just because their partner knows they’ve had a bad day, and that’s their bare minimum,” she said.

“I just feel like the standards are just very different in Australia compared to in other countries.”

She said the dating situation in Australia is enough to make her consider going overseas to find a partner, with the 24-year-old actually heading back to America in December.

Europe is another popular destination social media users have suggested for Aussies wanting to experience a different dating scene.

This can also come with the added perk of experiencing a Euro summer trip, which is a bucket-list item for many Aussies.

Ashley Andrew, Group Marketing Manager for travel booking site Mix & Match, suggests avoiding peak times in order to get the best deals.

“Book early bird flight specials usually between September until November for travel the following year for Euro summer to find flight deals and the best availability,” she told news.com.au.

“Fly in off-peak season. Go ahead of the crowded summer season in April or May, or enjoy the last of summer and autumn during the month of October or November.”

Young Aussies are prioritising overseas trips right now more than other generations. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

In order to further help young Aussies realise their overseas dating dreams, Mix & Match is offering $100 off international flights for students.

“Mix and Match online travel are excited to launch Student Flight Deals, helping students save up to $100* on international return flights. Compare airlines easily, find the best fares, and fly now, pay later with Afterpay,” Ms Andrew said.

It also seems young Aussies are leading the charge when it comes to prioritising overseas trips right now, with new research from Finder showing a stark generational divide when it comes to holiday aspirations.

Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker revealed 54 per cent of Australians are planning a holiday in the next 12 months.

Gen Z and Millennials are far more likely to prioritise travel, with two in three of those surveyed planning a trip within the next year.

This is much greater than the older generations, with less than half of Gen X and Baby Boomers hitting the road in the next 12 months.

Young Australians are also more likely to book a holiday they can’t afford, with 35 per cent of Gen Zers and 22 per cent of Millennials admitting to doing just that.

This is compared to just 11 per cent of Gen Xers and 1 per cent of Baby Boomers.

Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, said it is clear that young Australians are prioritising experiences over material possessions, with travel being at the top of the list.

“This generation is all about living life to the fullest, even if that means stretching the budget,” he said.

For those looking to travel on a tight budget, Mr Kidman suggests starting by setting realistic goals, creating a detailed itinerary and being flexible with departure dates.

“Using points to pay for flights can also save you heaps. I often use this for last-minute trips,” he said.

“Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of budget-friendly destinations and ways to explore the world without breaking the bank.”