Is Gen Z looking for love in all the wrong places?

Finding love in 2024 is a whole different ball game, especially for Gen Zs, who were practically born with a smartphone in hand. Gone were the days of love letters and blind dates. These days, youths are coming in hot and swiping left and right. The ultimate gateway to love became your phone and a carefully curated dating profile. Sure, it might have taken some trial and error, but we’ve all heard the stories of people meeting online, falling in love, and even getting married. Now that’s what we call a modern love story!

In this article, we will delve deeper into Gen Zs’ dating preferences using the statistics from a recent study by Dating Advice, “Survey: Gen Z Women and Men Reveal Their Surprising New Preferences for Finding Love”. We will explore the various places that Gen Zs are looking for love and the differences in men and women’s dating preferences.

Gen Z is no longer as fond of dating apps

In a surprising twist, Gen Zs seem to be slowly ghosting online dating. According to a survey by Dating Advice, only 16% of Gen Z prefer using dating apps to find love. Unlike millennials, who embraced dating apps with open arms, many Gen Zers are starting to feel that the magic of swiping right has lost its charm. 

Maybe it’s because swiping through endless profiles has started seeming like a chore (cue the dating app burnouts), or maybe it’s because they’re tired of going on dates with people  who look nothing like their pictures. (Catfish alert!) Many reported that a substantial amount of connections made online ten unauthentic and lack substance.

That brings us to the million dollar question; where is Gen Z finding love?

IRL (in-real-life) meetings

It seems that Gen Z is making a U-turn back to traditional dating methods with 90% of them opting for IRL meetings. Whether it’s through mutual friends, social events, or even spontaneous encounters, this generation values the chemistry that comes with face-to-face interactions. After all, you can’t beat that special spark that can only be felt when you meet someone in person.

However, we found that while both men and women are moving away from dating apps, their preferences on where they wish to find love are vastly different.

Women prefer social gatherings, work environments and chance encounters

Women favour meeting at social events like weddings (20%), through friends and family (19%) or even at the office (16%). The casual and comfortable environments make it easy to start conversations and bond over shared interests. There is also a layer of safety with these authentic interactions. (You can safely assume that your best friend’s cousin isn’t a serial killer.)  Even the workplace isn’t off-limits and sometimes the best relationships can start with a shared project or a mutual deadline. 

But that’s not all - women are also fans of the classic meet-cute (18%). Whether it’s a chance encounter in a bookstore, a flirty conversation over coffee, or even connecting on social media (18%), they’re open to finding love in places that feel a little more organic and a lot less curated. It’s also an opportunity to live out your classic rom-com dreams.

Men prefer speed dating and VR dating

On the other hand, men are taking a slightly different route when it comes to dating. 20% of Gen Z men are gravitating towards more structured dating environments, for example speed dating. Maybe it’s the low stakes involved. In a speed dating scenario, there’s no time to overthink, and rejection doesn’t sting as much when you’ve only got three minutes to impress someone. Plus, it’s efficient. Who wouldn’t want to meet several potential partners in one night? 

Interestingly, Gen Z men are also more willing to dive into the digital world of VR dating, a not-so-traditional dating method (17%). While women shy away from the idea of love in the metaverse, men seem intrigued by the possibilities of connecting through avatars. It could be that the anonymity of VR gives them a confidence boost, allowing them to be more open and adventurous in their romantic pursuits. On the other hand, women could be more cautious about people hiding their true identities; a matter of safety.  

Men are also into meeting women at rallies (19%), local clubs or classes (17%) and local events like sports games or concerts (16%). These locations are also authentic and casual - similar to the social gatherings and chance encounters that Gen Z women prefer. However, it is interesting that the top 5 preferences for men and women barely overlap. 

Is Gen Z looking for love in the wrong places?

Ultimately, Gen Z men and women might be looking for love in all the wrong places - or at least, in very different ones. While women are busy browsing the aisles of the local bookstore or attending social gatherings, men are out exploring the virtual world or trying their luck at speed dating. It’s as if Gen Z men and women are on two parallel tracks looking for love. Perhaps it’s time to switch lanes and try something new. After all, love has a funny way of turning up where you least expect it.