The end of hookup culture? Why Gen Z is walking away from situationships and looking for real ‘love’

Gen Z once walked so hookup culture could run. Or at least that is how it looked on the outside. Dating apps, soft launches, ghosting, breadcrumbing and the infamous situationship era made it seem like commitment was cancelled and feelings were embarrassing. But somewhere between endless talking stages and emotionally unavailable flings, the vibe quietly shifted.

Now, a growing number of Gen Z daters are asking the uncomfortable question: is this actually fun anymore?

Hookup culture thrived on speed and low stakes. Swipe, match, flirt, meet, disappear. It promised freedom without responsibility, intimacy without expectations. For a while, it worked. Casual dating felt empowering, especially in a generation determined to unlearn traditional relationship timelines.

But burnout hit fast. Constantly starting over, explaining trauma to strangers and pretending not to care started feeling less like freedom and more like unpaid emotional labour. What was marketed as chill slowly turned exhausting.

If hookup culture had a mascot, it would be the situationship. Not single, not taken, just emotionally confused. Gen Z embraced it thinking ambiguity meant safety. No labels meant no heartbreak, right? Wrong.

Situationships blurred boundaries, delayed clarity and often left one person more invested than the other. Many Gen Z voices now admit that situationships feel worse than breakups because there is nothing to grieve except wasted time. The emotional whiplash has made commitment feel less scary than confusion.

Despite stereotypes, Gen Z is deeply self-aware. Therapy-speak is normalised, emotional intelligence is valued and red flags are discussed openly. With that awareness comes a desire for honesty and effort. More young people are openly saying they want intention, consistency and communication.

This does not mean Gen Z is rushing into marriage. It means they are tired of pretending detachment equals strength. Dating is slowly becoming less about proving how unbothered you are and more about how aligned you feel.

Instead of juggling five talking stages, many Gen Z daters are choosing slower connections. Fewer dates, clearer intentions and less tolerance for mixed signals. Being upfront is no longer seen as desperate, it is seen as efficient.

Ironically, the generation raised on instant gratification is realising that real connection cannot be rushed.

Not completely, but the blind obsession is fading. Casual dating still exists, but it is no longer the default goal. Gen Z is learning that freedom does not mean avoiding feelings. Sometimes, the boldest move is choosing something real in a world obsessed with casualness.