According to Tinder's Future of Dating Report 2023, we have entered a dating renaissance, driven by Gen Z's desire to disrupt dating and relationship norms carved out by previous generations. 75 percent of Gen Z feel they are challenging dating and relationship standards that were passed down to them, the report found.
Most Gen Z accept that not all relationships are permanent. Gen Z values a deep emotional connection with their partner and tends to be open to creating a balance to meet their emotional and physical needs. For this reason, Gen Z is deciding to either not get married or wait until they meet the right person.
Situationship
A "situationship" describes an ambiguous romantic relationship where both people have feelings for each other but don't want (or see a need) to have it clearly defined. Situationships are frequently characterized by "dating, but not really".
Characteristics of Generation Z
They're money-driven and ambitious. They love to travel. They're prone to anxiety. They're known to set boundaries. They're avid gamers.
“We're seeing this moment where people are opting to be single,” Rodney said. “There's this intentionality and this deliberateness of people choosing that for themselves.” Which may explain some of Gen Z's preference to date like a solitary feline rather than prowling around for mates.
75 percent of Gen Z feel they are challenging dating and relationship standards that were passed down to them, the report found.
An overview of Millennial and Gen Z dating statistics
They value freedom and independence. 75% of Gen Z are single. 44% of millennials are married.
Social media and technology use are major contributors to Gen Z depression. While technology has many advantages, it can also be a source of anxiety and stress. Excessive social media use has been linked to feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, and depression, according to research.
Gen Zers generally have strong values related to racial justice and sustainability. Mobilizations like the Global Climate March, led by Gen Z activist Greta Thunberg, thrive on the activism of young people. Climate change is one of the issues Gen Zers care about most.
The satisfaction and connection typically assigned to relationships can come from anything, including romantic (or non-romantic) relationships, but also includes the celebration of friendships, non-binary relationships, or an online swipe turned into a hang.
In Gen Z slang term, “fire” means something is really amazing or cool. They also use it to express excitement or point out a new trend within their culture.
Gaslight(ing)
Gaslight means to manipulate someone into questioning the truth or their own reality. It's actually not just slang, but an actual term, coined in the movie Gaslight in 1944. It's frequently used among Gen Z, especially when discussing toxic relationships where gaslighting commonly occurs.
"Gen Z is driven by purpose and world change. An impressive 65% want to personally create something world-changing." Interestingly, Gen Z are also more likely to see themselves as entrepreneurs, than leaders.
Feelings About Dating in America
More than 30% of the survey's Gen Z respondents said they're not looking for a relationship at all, and almost 20% said they'd like to date like cats do—more on that later. Overall, 79% of Americans feel like finding the right partner is harder than finding the right job.
Authenticity is the key to reaching the Gen Z audience.
This marketing approach has served all generations right up to millennials. Most of us have become accustomed to being broadcasted to and we feel comfortable with that relationship, even if we don't believe what we're being told. But Gen Z are not.
In particular, Gen Z trusts influencers more than ever before due to their relatability and unbiased opinions. Influencers often engage with their followers in various ways, from hosting meet-ups to live streaming their daily lives on social media platforms.
Students fear a lack of finances and fulfilment
The greatest fears for Generation Z centre on not achieving their hopes and dreams for the future.
Gen Z and the Loneliness Epidemic
Business Insider's research further reveals that 60% of Gen Z has felt the grip of loneliness within the past year. Additionally, an alarming 30% of young people confess they are unsure how to make new friends (Vice, 2022), heightening their feelings of isolation.
According to a Psychology Today article, the leading three reasons for Gen Z's loneliness include overstimulation, social media and a dependency shift. Overstimulation suggests we bite off more than we can chew. People are distracted by work, chores, progress, social media, and the activities of today and tomorrow.
Gen Z'ers may want a relationship with someone who is more established and can offer a different perspective in life that someone in their own age group can't. Take a look at some reasons why Gen Z may prefer dating older.
However, as Brunson mentioned, the report found marriage is less of a priority for this generation than any that came before. For the 18 to 25-year-olds who were surveyed, getting married drops to tenth on the priority list when thinking about their short to long-term goals.
MIAMI - A growing number of Millennial and Gen-Z women are choosing not to become parents. A 2021 Pew Research Center Survey shows 44 percent of non-parents ages 18 to 49 say it is "not too likely" or "not likely at all" that they will have children someday, up 7 percentage points from 2018's survey.