New Survey From Hinge Finds Gen Z Daters Over Hookups

A new survey from dating app Hinge found that young Gen Z daters are no longer interested in hookup culture, thanks to the isolation they felt from the pandemic.

Forty-five percent of Gen Z daters surveyed felt that they had changed their dating habits for the better since the pandemic began - and are only interested in relationships that would be “additive” to their lives, according to a report from New York Post.

In addition, 39 percent of those surveyed said they were pickier about who they dated since the pandemic, and 91 percent of these respondents said this was because they didn’t want to waste time on the wrong person.

Almost half of younger Hinge users admitted the pandemic had changed their relationship goals, and that now they crave more long-term relationships instead of casual hookups. According to New York Post, Hinge’s director of relationship science Logan Ury said of the survey results: “Many daters feel like they’re making up for lost time and are ready for a long-term committed relationship.”

At the same time, there are contradictions in the results. Thirty-four percent of respondents admitted they still find themselves in temporary, casual relationships. But some have shared that by being clear in expressing what they want, they have moved on to more committed relationships.

Another contradiction seems to be the emphasis Gen Z daters are putting on finding a relationship, which is less than previous generations. Instead, they are putting self-care first, and expect their partners to take care of themselves first, too. They are also more interested in having genuine conversation and connection with the people they meet, which means talking about mental health and self-care practices.

Ury also told the Post some advice for young daters: “Make sure you talk early on in the dating journey about your goals and values. It can be hard to bring up, but if it turns out you’re not on the same page, it will save you a lot of time and heartbreak long-term.”

A whopping 78 percent of respondents said that instead of focusing only on dating, they are spending time focusing on their personal mental health, and 59 percent are investing in getting their lives in order before seeking a partner. And a vast majority – 97 percent – said they want to be with someone who takes care of their mental health, and 86 percent said they were more likely to go on a second date with someone who is going to therapy.