Couples Therapist: The Real Reason Gen Z Stopped Dating | Esther Perel
Jay Shetty Podcast
Jul 20, 2026
The decline in Gen Z dating stems from a loss of 'friction' and the atrophy of social skills caused by digital isolation. By replacing real-world, embodied encounters with contactless, screen-based interactions, young adults are missing the essential training ground for intimacy, leading to a state of 'ambiguous loss' where physical presence no longer guarantees emotional connection.
Key insight: 45% of men aged 16 to 25 have never approached a woman in public, a symptom of a generation that has replaced the necessary, anxiety-inducing friction of real-world social negotiation with the safety of digital, disembodied communication.
