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Gen Z are experiencing a sex recession.

The sex recession can be understood in a wider social/cultural context.

Human dating is being replaced by AI companions for some Gen Z.

Barely a week goes by without a disparaging headline about Gen Z. This time, the focus is on the assertion that they are having less sex than previous generations did at their age, which is roughly 15 to 29. Curious to know more, I consulted the premier sex research centre, the Kinsey Institute, which has been researching sex, gender, and relationships for 80 years. Their famous mid-century reports shocked society by revealing that premarital sex and homosexuality were far more common than most people assumed. Are their findings about the sex lives of Gen Z shocking too? A bit; but for converse reasons. The Kinsey Institute confirms a "sex recession" among young adults, with the number reportedly not having sex in the past year doubling from 12 percent in 2010 to 24 percent in 2024, and 30 percent of 18–29-year-olds reporting having had no sex at all in the past three months.1

Reasons Gen Z Are Not Having Sex

When this theme shows up in my therapy room, the main reasons Gen Z say they’re not having sex are the same reasons that apply to many of the quirks and challenges they are grappling with—money and tech.

Due to financial constraints, young adults are living with their parents for longer. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average age that people leave home has risen to 28.2 Some move out for........

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