Seventy-five percent of Gen Z feel they are challenging dating and relationship standards that were passed down to them, according to a surprising new Future of Dating Report by Tinder. Nearly half of all Tinder users are ages 18 to 25.
A big part of this change is caused by what Gen Z is looking for in a partner. Authenticity (80 percent), loyalty (79 percent) and respect (78 percent) were the top qualities Gen Z seeks out in a prospective partner. Self-care is a big draw too, with nearly 75 percent of young singles say they find a match more attractive if they’re open to working on their mental wellbeing. Meanwhile, physical appearance only matters to 56 percent of Gen Z.
Gen Z is also much quicker with communication than Millennials. Instead of waiting for “the perfect time” to respond, 77 percent of Tinder users respond to a match within 30 minutes, and 40 percent respond within five minutes. They don’t leave the other person hanging, for better or for worse. The report also found that 18–25 year olds are 32 percent less likely to ghost someone they’re talking to than people over the age of 33.
“In 2023, Tinder is largely used by Gen Z. This is a group that continues to influence society and challenge constrictive norms in the most profound of ways. No other generation has made such a huge impact on the workplace, retail consumption, technology, politics and culture,” said Faye Iosotaluno, Tinder COO. “It is this generation that we believe are driving the most change that we’ve ever seen in how we date, who we date and what dating actually is.”
Gen Z’s changes are a welcome sigh of relief for single millennials, too. Over half of users ages 33 to 38 surveyed think dating is healthier for 18–25 year olds than it was when they were that age. Things like, dating games, such as playing hard to get or giving mixed signals, have, thankfully, become a thing of the past.
