For most Americans, the decline of teen pregnancies is a reason to celebrate; and for many, falling rates of teen sex represent an equally positive development.
But it’s not just sex that’s declined among teens; it’s romantic relationships overall. Teens are dating less. A survey conducted by the Survey Center on American Life found that only 56 percent of Gen Z adults—and 54 percent of Gen Z men—said they were involved in a romantic relationship at any point during their teenage years.[i] This represents a remarkable change from previous generations, where teenage dating was much more common. More than three-quarters of Baby Boomers (78 percent) and Generation Xers (76 percent) report having had a boyfriend or girlfriend as teenagers.
Forty-four percent of Gen Z men today report having no relationship experience at all during their teen years, double the rate for older men.
A remarkable, lamentable decline:
“Teens are dating less. A survey [found] only 56 percent of Gen Z adults—and 54 percent of Gen Z men—said they were involved in a romantic relationship at any point during their teenage years” ~ @dcoxpolls @AEI https://t.co/m6QQYQAbqz
— Brad Wilcox (@BradWilcoxIFS) February 8, 2024