You’re scrolling again, is it? It is 11:47 PM, and yet you can’t stop. But then, you do. She looks cute. Her profile suggests she’s your ‘type’. You swipe right. And so begins the wait. Will she, won’t she? You know the drill. Wondering if she’ll like your profile. Rethinking what your bio says. Confusion, contemplation, chaos. You can’t help but wonder: am I doing it right?
The is modern love – the Gen Z edition. Fascinating and frustrating in equal measure.
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Dating today isn't about finding someone who likes the same favourite pizza toppings or shares your taste in movies. It's a battlefield of algorithms, emotional unavailability, and far too many choices. But peel back the layers and what you have is ghosting and breadcrumbing lies. As if love wasn’t problematic enough already!
The Paradox of Connection
Let's begin with the irony. Gen Z is often considered to be the most "connected". We FaceTime to fight, Snapchat to flirt and Instagram to flex. But loneliness runs through our veins like caffeine on a Monday morning. Of course, dating apps have made meeting people ridiculously convenient, but have they really made us closer?
Digital intimacy feels real until it doesn't. Texting "wyd?" at midnight is the easy part, but vulnerability, the kind that matters is more than some well-timed emoji. Technology has armed us with the tools to connect, but it has also given us a chance to escape. Ghosting isn't rude but it's the ultimate act of emotional avoidance. And when relationships become as disposable as old selfies, are we really building anything meaningful?
The Culture of Avoidance
Ghosting, breadcrumbing and orbiting are some of the widely used terms from modern dating’s own dictionary, and none of it is flattering. These behaviours aren’t just trends; they’re symptoms of a deeper fear. It’s easier to disappear than to say, “I’m not feeling it.” It’s simpler to send breadcrumbs of attention than to admit you’re not ready for commitment.
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But avoidance doesn't eliminate feelings – it just defers them. Every time you ghost someone, a tiny part of you wonders if you are the villain in their story. Every breadcrumb you drop chips away at your own emotional integrity. It's a vicious cycle, and no one comes out unbothered.
Love as a Commodity
If you’ve ever thought that dating apps feel more like filling out a job application than finding true love, you’re not the only one. The swipe culture has transformed attraction into a mere algorithm, turning romance into a simple game of “hot or not.” While convenience is appealing, the commercialization of love has its downsides. We’re now not merely swiping on individuals; we’re swiping on opportunities. Each “match” opens a hundred other possibilities, and before we know it, nothing seems satisfactory. This abundance of choice leads to inflated expectations. We continue to look for “the one,” believing they’re just a swipe away, all the while overlooking the people right in front of us.
Then there’s the whole label debate—situationships, entanglements, “we’re just vibing.” The reluctance to define relationships might seem like freedom, but it’s often just fear in disguise. By steering clear of labels, we’re avoiding accountability.
Dating Burnout: Too Much of a Messy Good Thing
Here’s the kicker: having too many choices doesn’t just make us selective; it drains our energy. The constant swiping, meaningless small talk, and the fleeting hopes - it’s all so tiring. When love resembles an endless buffet, we lose the ability to truly appreciate it.
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So, here we are. It’s 12:03 AM, and your thumb hovers over the screen. Another swipe? Another chat? Or perhaps, just perhaps, a moment to pause and reflect. The issue isn’t that Gen Z is “doing dating wrong.” It’s that we’re attempting to navigate uncharted territory with tools that weren’t designed for our emotions.
Love in 2025 isn’t broken; it’s simply evolving. While the journey may seem like a maze, perhaps the goal isn’t to find the exit. Maybe it’s about getting lost, learning, and discovering yourself throughout the process. So, go ahead—swipe, text, vibe—but remember to truly feel. After all, love isn’t just an algorithm; it’s a leap of faith.