Collapse of romantic infrastructure an engineering fail, not GenZ character flaw
10 hours ago
- #Dating Trends
- #Social Infrastructure
- #Generation Z
- The article disputes the 'dating recession' narrative as a Gen Z character flaw, arguing it's an infrastructure problem.
- Dating apps replaced traditional social infrastructure (friends, family, church) but lack 'vouching' and accountability.
- Data on declining teen dating since the 1990s is cited, but evidence for a young-adult dating recession is weak.
- The rise of online dating displaced older introduction systems, but hasn't increased pairing rates.
- Dating apps' scale creates choice paralysis, addictive design, and unequal outcomes, leading some to disengage.
- New apps like Cerca and Blindmate are experimenting with reintroducing social context and vouching.
- The author suggests the issue is flawed romantic infrastructure, not a generational lack of interest in dating.