Archive · 24 Jul 2025
In-Person Dating Trends: Gen Z Struggles & Dating App Shift
Dating apps are losing popularity, and people are starting to prefer meeting others in real life.
This is especially true for Gen Z, the generation that grew up with smartphones.
Meeting people in person can be tricky for them because they haven't had as much practice with face-to-face interactions.
Counselors suggest tips like practicing social skills and building confidence.
The key is to build your skills, which will help not only with dating but also with other areas of your life.
Dating app usage is declining, with some apps exploring in-person dating activities.
Gen Z's preference for in-person dating is shifting cultural trends in the US.
In-person dating can be challenging for Gen Z due to a lack of interpersonal skills and social media influence.
Tips from counselors offer ways to build confidence in in-person interactions.
Confidence and self-awareness in social settings can be built with practice and support.
- Who
- Gen Z and older generations.
- What
- In-person dating is gaining traction as dating apps face challenges.
- When
- Recent shifts in dating preferences.
- Where
- Primarily discussed in the context of the US and Canada.
- Why
- Due to dating app fatigue and a desire for more authentic interactions.
Challenges of In-Person Dating for Gen Z
Benefits of In-Person Dating
Generational Divide in Dating
Challenges of In-Person Dating for Gen Z
Lack of interpersonal skills and comfort in face-to-face settings.
Benefits of In-Person Dating
Millennials and older generations, who have the interpersonal experience many younger people lack.
- Gen Z met partners online
- 23%
- Gen Z survey desire for designated spaces at work
- 38%
- Study focus
- masculinity, dating apps, and in-person alternatives to swiping