Everythings Too Complicated : Why Gen Z Are Taking a Surprising Turn to Monogamy

Im sure youve heard your grandparents or parents utter the phrase, Oh how things have changed . And though its annoying, theres no doubt theres a truth to it that we cant deny - especially when it comes to love and relationships. Much of the dating world is now at our fingertips and the thought of initially meeting someone in real life - like a meet-cute - is drifting further away from us, and the statistics back this up. According to Statistica, there were 11.1 million online dating users in the UK in 2023, and this is estimated to rise to almost 12 million by 2028. But according to new data from Feeld, Gen Z are making a surprising turn in their relationships and appeal to how things used to be , with 23% of young Feeld members frequently fantasising about monogamy, compared to only 12% of Boomers. In a way, the stats prove that were over hurting one another with the illusions and confusion that are far too common in relationships nowadays. In fact, of those wanting to try polyamory, 27% prefer it to be ethical. Experts Featured in This Article Dr Justin Lehmiller is a research fellow at The Kinsey Institute and an internationally recognised sex educator. This is really no surprise, since finding true love has become increasingly complicated in the past two decades. On the apps alone, youre constantly learning which Hinge prompts work for you, or which pictures are best for your Bumble profile. Then theres the dreaded doom-swiping between potential matches. Or take yourself over to a social media channel, like TikTok, Instagram or even Snapchat and youll see what rapper Central Cee summarises as Gen Z love, spotting someone you fancy on your social feeds and taking the leap … into their DMs that is. But that comes with the added risk of being ghosted or catfished. And then, if youve finally made it out of the dating minefield and a relationship (of sorts) is on the cards, theres a new dictionary of labels and stages to adhere to, as listed below: The Talking Stage: Usually fun, but often a drag. The talking stage comes just after meeting someone and includes exchanging texts, hanging out together, getting to know one another and can last a few weeks or, in some extreme cases, months. Exclusive: If everythings going well, this is the transitional stage between the talking stage and a relationship. The question (that is Will you be my girlfriend/boyfriend/partner ) hasnt been popped yet, but neither of you are entertaining, talking to or dating anyone else. Youre exclusive to one another. Situationship: This can be romantic or sexual, but there are no labels, boundaries or growth, meaning it can be pretty dead-end. Its simply a situation between people. Friends With Benefits: There are a few labels for this stage but to keep the copy PG, Ill note that it can often be shortened to FWBs. Unlike a typical relationship, this isnt romantic and is purely platonic and sexual. It might seem similar to a situationship, as it can easily become one, but there usually are clear boundaries in place to avoid any hurt feelings or confusion. It is just as tiring as it seems and the younger generation are kind of over it too. No wonder theyre backpedalling and fantasising about a simpler time and monogamy. Sex educator Dr Justin Lehmiller reckons this is a direct result of the dating era theyve been brought up in. Gen Z are romanticising traditional relationships because they grew up in an era where online dating is the norm. And while that offers more opportunities for connection, online interactions create more ambiguity and uncertainty because its simply harder to infer another persons intent and meaning over text than it is in person. Traditional courtship practices necessitated clear communication that let you know the others true feelings. Its not surprising that these practices are being romanticised in a time when things like ghosting and catfishing have become daily occurrences, Dr Lehmiller tells PS UK. Traditional courtship practices necessitated clear communication that let you know the others true feelings. But while Gen Z may prefer a traditional romance, their beliefs, sexualities and identities have developed, presenting a deeper understanding of self - which is undeniably a good thing. In terms of sexuality and identity, 93% of Gen Z users have developed a deeper understanding of their own sexuality and 90% developed a deeper understanding of their own gender. Theyre kinkier too, with nearly 47% of Gen Z Feeld users discovering new kinks or desires during their time using the Feeld app. With self-awareness at an all time high and a desire to love simply, there cant possibly be any drawbacks? Well, Dr Lehmiller believes that relationship experience has a play in these findings, and why Gen Z are proving to be different to those before them. Most Gen Zs are currently single and many have not had a serious or committed relationship yet. By contrast, older generations are more experienced with relationships in general and, as a result, may have different wants or needs. Gen Z are the generation who know what they want, be that in their careers, futures and love lives, and arent afraid to go for it. If theyve packed up and left the complications of online dating, talking stages and social media romances behind, a) who can blame them and b) props to them. Should they change their mind, were sure we hear about it in the form of a new TikTok trend. Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at PS UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.

Netz: POPSUGAR UK
Aktualisiert: 13.9.2024

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Everythings Too Complicated : Why Gen Z Are Taking a Surprising Turn to Monogamy

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