Gen Z loves to act like they’ve got it all figured out. We see them swiping right with confidence and declaring “no strings attached,” but deep down, we all know they’re softies and not made for casual dating.
Sure, they like to keep things cool and casual, but beneath that “chill” exterior lies a generation that’s constantly battling mental pressures, anxiety, and the dreaded comparison game brought on by social media. So why exactly is casual dating a mismatch for our poor, sensitive Gen Z in their twenties?
Commitment Phobia Or Cuddle Craving?
On the surface, Gen Z is commitment-phobic- “I don’t want a relationship, I want vibes!” But, spoiler alert: most of them actually do want someone to binge-watch Netflix with (no, not just ‘Netflix and chill’).
According to a study by YouGov, 51% of Gen Z feel lonely often or all the time. Yeah, swiping might feel like an adventure, but sooner or later, they end up crying over their phone because “he didn’t text back after that one cute date.”
Casual dating seems like the cool thing to do, but Gen Z secretly craves emotional connection, even if they pretend otherwise. All that soft-heartedness isn’t just a phase; it’s a reality that makes casual dating feel like walking through a minefield of feelings. One wrong step, and boom- emotional damage.
Mental Health VS ‘Casual’ Stress
It’s 2024, and Gen Z is doing its best to normalise talking about mental health, but here’s the kicker – dating casually isn’t exactly helping the cause.
With social anxiety on the rise and 60% of Gen Z reporting high levels of stress and pressure from social media as reported by APA, navigating the ups and downs of casual relationships feels like juggling chainsaws.
The uncertainty of situationships combined with ghosting (which they’re also really good at) often leads to breakdowns instead of breakthroughs.
Even though they can meme about their mental health issues like pros, the emotional toll of casual dating hits harder than expected. One would think they’re managing fine, but one minute they’re posting that cute brunch pic, and the next they’re having a mini existential crisis.
Social Media: The Relationship Saboteur
Speaking of existential crises, social media is one of the major reasons behind that. As if dating wasn’t already confusing enough, now one has got to deal with the Instagram official phase and constantly overanalyzing whether leaving someone on read is a bad move or not.
Social media can make even the most “casual” situation-ship feel like a public drama series. Gen Z spends an average of 3 hours a day on social media, meaning they’re endlessly comparing their love lives (or lack thereof) to perfectly filtered couples on TikTok.
While they pretend not to care, the truth is, that Gen Z’s soft hearts can’t handle the constant validation loop. The pressure to keep things “low-key” while also seeking validation through likes and comments adds a layer of unnecessary stress. Why bother with casual dating when one’s IG story needs a whole backstory?
Read More: ResearchED: Why Are Indians, Young And Old Both, Feeling So Lonely?
The Battle Of FOMO And Reality
Casual dating has become a rite of passage for Gen Z, mostly because they’ve been sold this idea of freedom and exploration, but what they’re really exploring is emotional burnout. FOMO (fear of missing out) is real- after all, everyone’s doing it, so they might as well give it a try, right? Wrong. In reality, Gen Z is breaking under the pressure of keeping things “fun and light”.
A survey by Cigna found that 79% of Gen Zers experience loneliness, so why do they keep throwing themselves into casual dating? Maybe it’s just because they’re terrified of being left behind.
They’re playing it cool, but in reality, half of them are wondering if the person they’re casually dating is secretly seeing three other people. It’s like a rollercoaster where every high (read: fun date) is followed by a crash (read: existential dread).
Brave Faces And Crying Sessions
If there’s one thing Gen Z is good at, it’s pretending to have it all together. They’ll tell each other they’re fine with “no labels” but as soon as they hang up the phone, they’re probably texting their best friend, “So like, what are we?” Behind those brave faces, Gen Z is dealing with an emotional avalanche. They laugh about it in group chats but still have those secret crying sessions in bed.
Casual dating for Gen Z is like walking a tightrope- sure, they’re brave enough to get on it, but the balance is fragile. Deep down, they want real connection, but they’re terrified of asking for it because it makes them look “uncool”. And that’s the real tragedy: being afraid of their feelings.
At the end of the day, Gen Z isn’t as casual as they’d like to believe. Sure, they’ll keep swiping, keep ghosting, and keep pretending that all this doesn’t bother them. But behind those brave faces are soft hearts that can’t handle the chaos of casual dating.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to admit that “soft dating”– you know, where there’s mutual respect and actual feelings involved- is more their speed. After all, it’s not about being “cool”; it’s about staying emotionally sane, and that’s a vibe everyone can get behind.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: The Print, The Hindu, Forbes
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: genz dating, struggles, social anxiety, mental health, genz life, relationships, casual dating, dating advice, soft hearts, modern love, love and relationships, social media, pressure of dating, mental health matters, emotional whiplash, FOMO, loneliness generation, genz issues, relationship drama, feelings, over vibes
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, or copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.
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