Older generations may find themselves in a surprising situation if they try to date someone from Gen Z. It seems that Gen Z is no longer particularly enthusiastic about one-night stands, unlike millennials, who eagerly embraced casual sex in the 2000s.
But this doesn’t mean Gen Z is becoming more conservative.
Rather, they reject random hookups because they seek a more exciting life and see happiness coming from different sources.
They Say “Yes” to Commitment, But…
According to a recent survey published by The Times, Gen Z is more inclined toward traditional relationships and even marriage – but they don’t necessarily believe in “forever.”
“For young people today, divorce is already built into their mindset as a normal possibility,” explains researcher Charlie Sawyer, who is also a member of Gen Z.
“It’s ingrained in our thinking that divorce is an option.
Since we don’t see marriage as a lifelong commitment, we’re much more open to trying it out,” Sawyer told the newspaper. He added that Gen Z doesn’t necessarily want to follow the “socially normalized path,” which says a lot about their approach to relationships and sex.
One-Night Stands? No, Thanks
The survey asked 1,000 Gen Z individuals about which sexual behaviors they consider “common” or “uncommon” within their generation. The results:
- 62% are against casual sex with strangers.
By comparison, when the same question was asked to millennials in 2004:
- Only 19% disapproved of sex with someone they didn’t know.
- 78% said their friends would gladly engage in a no-strings-attached hookup.
Why isn’t Gen Z interested in casual sex? Experts suggest several reasons:
- The “toxic environment” of porn, oversexualized media, social media, TV, and magazines has made it harder for young people to truly enjoy sex, leading to a kind of “sexual recession.”
- Anxiety, mental health struggles, and the social isolation of the COVID-19 era may also contribute to their reluctance toward casual encounters.
“Young people today get their information about sex from TV, magazines, and TikTok,” explains sex expert Maria Yagoda in her book Laid and Confused: Why We Tolerate Bad Sex and How to Stop.

They’re Obsessed with Weddings
If they’re not into casual sex, what do they say “yes” to?
According to The Times survey, Gen Z is surprisingly enthusiastic about marriage:
- 61% believe marriage is important.
- 21% consider it irrelevant.
By contrast, in 2004:
- Only 59% of millennials thought marriage was important.
- 39% said it wasn’t really relevant to them.
Porn, Trans Rights, and Other Divisive Issues
Gen Z’s approach to porn consumption is also different from that of millennials:
- 40% say their friends watch online porn frequently.
- 36% say it’s not common among them.
For comparison, when millennials were in their twenties:
- 58% said their friends watched online porn.
- 37% said they didn’t.
If these numbers are accurate, porn consumption among Gen Z has decreased by 18% compared to the previous generation.
When it comes to trans rights, Gen Z appears to be quite open-minded:
- 56% believe trans women should be allowed to use women’s restrooms.
- 61% think schools should support students’ social transitions.
The Takeaway
Gen Z largely avoids casual sex but is enthusiastic about marriage – though only as long as it remains an option, not a lifelong commitment.
And when it comes to social issues like trans rights, they tend to be more progressive and accepting than previous generations.
The survey paints a picture of a generation that is a unique mix of freedom, uncertainty, and surprising traditionalism. They like the idea of marriage – but only if they can walk away from it at any time.
Whether their approach will work out in the long run remains to be seen.

















