The Death of Romance?

"According to a 2025 poll by Rassmussen, 37% of single adults under 30 in the US report that they are "not interested" in dating at all. It appears that many young Americans have effectively given up on romance. This begs the question of why so many young people would forego one of the most basic physical, social, and emotional human needs: an intimate relationship with a loving partner."

"Those in the Gen-Z generation are known for their high levels of anxiety and for many in this generation, dating does not feel safe. Many of them suffer from extreme social anxiety and often avoid face-to-face, and even phone-to-phone, contact with strangers. This makes approaching potential partners in person difficult, with some voicing concern over in-person rejection being captured and posted online by observers, thus magnifying the humiliating experience."

Gen-Z demonstrates significantly lower engagement in romantic activities compared to previous generations, with 37% of single adults under 30 reporting no interest in dating. Marriage rates have reached historic lows while loneliness has become epidemic. Multiple factors contribute to this trend: high anxiety levels make face-to-face interaction with potential partners difficult, and young people fear rejection being recorded and shared online. Online dating platforms present paradoxical challenges—users encounter too many options yet perceive insufficient quality matches. Additionally, growing political divergence between young men and women creates additional barriers to relationship formation. Together, these factors have led many young Americans to abandon romantic pursuits entirely.

Read at Psychology Today