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Friday, March 29, 2024

After graduating from UF and returning home, Joseph Grutta found his friends had moved away.

Inspired by his situation, Grutta developed Far or Near, a social network to help students connect with people who share similar interests.

The free website can be used to create organizations, coordinate events and subscribe to hobbies. The website is not available as a mobile app. 

Grutta said users can search within their geographic area for people who share interests such as dance, photography and rock climbing.

“I went around finding different popular interests, making sure there was something for everyone,” he said.

Grutta does not currently profit from the website, but said he plans to incorporate ads catered to the user’s experience or take a portion of the admission fee from users who charge for an event.

The website will remain free to use in both cases, Grutta said.

“The big thing is that it’s so hard to find people that share your hobbies,” he said. “There are sites where you can create or find groups in your area, but they charge you to do that.”

Looking forward, Grutta said he wants the website to help users find and manage organizations. Many UF groups, including all fraternities and sororities, have been added, he said.

The software, he said, allows students to upload their class schedules — only available to group officers and administrators — and coordinate meeting times.

Luke Bickell, an 18-year-old UF computer science freshman, said the website was a cool concept.

“It can be tough for larger groups to find a time that works for everyone,” said Bickell, a member of the Treble Makers and Theatre Strike Force.

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