Why is Gen Z having less sex?
Gen Z are, famously, having less sex; Honey Wyatt unpacks how social media and mental health are playing a part
Since the pandemic, speculation about Gen Z having less sex (and less fun overall) has been circulating. The boysober trend is viral, people are retreating from dating apps, and while people certainly seem to still have wild sex stories to share, sex is on the decline among the 20-something population. (I’ve certainly not kept quiet about my own stint with celibacy).
There has been little grounding, however, to suggest their sexual activity is any different to previous generations, but a new survey by sexual education platform Beducated shows they genuinely do have the lowest libido of all the generations.
Speaking to 1,879 people from ages 18 to over 65s, the July 2024 research shows Gen Z report lower libido levels than all other generations. Beducated asked all respondents to rank their libido levels on a scale of one (being low libido) to five (high libido), and while 19% of over 65s reported a low libido, the generations with the highest proportion of people reporting a low libido were Gen Z (28.4%) and Millennials (22%).
Why is Gen Z having a libido decline?
Gen Z’s libido level is unsurprising given the world they live in, explains Mariah Freya, CEO and sex coach at Beducated. “High levels of stress and anxiety are often exacerbated by endless ‘negative news’ in their social media feed and economic uncertainties,” she says.
“This generation grew up basically with 24/7 news in their pockets, which can deform our perception of reality and contribute to mental health issues. The growing self-diagnosis culture in which users seek out insights into mental health and medical conditions from content creators can worsen this.
“Additionally, this generation uses digital technology more than any other generation for human interaction, which leads to less face-to-face interaction and intimacy. Missing pleasure-based sex education is also, to this day, a factor why Gen Z is feeling low in sex drive.”
How to boost your libido, solo
Low libido is not a problem in and of itself but, Freya explains, those who want to can enhance their libido with time and dedication – either by themselves, or with a partner.
“It’s essential to overcome shame surrounding low libido and sex in general; this only amplifies the effect. Pleasure-based sex education is the most effective remedy here.
“Other classical stress-reducing actions like healthy eating, mindfulness, exercise, and adequate sleep can help, too. Addressing mental health through therapy or counselling is also crucial.”
Removing distractions can also provide more time for Gen Z to focus on their desire and pleasure, Freya adds. “For Gen Z specifically, it’s crucial to reduce digital stress by simply taking a break from social media and reducing the time spent online. Certain screen time apps can help us realise how much of our lifetime we are ‘wasting’ online and can also help limit access to our favorite apps.”
Read more: How to end your celibacy
Alison Walsh, psychosexual therapist and founder of Forward Thinking Therapy, suggests dedicating time to be curious about what feels good in your body.
“It’s not necessarily about waiting for your libido to pick up,” she tells Sextras. “Often we experience desire in a more responsive way, so it’s about putting ourselves in a situation where we’re more open to experience a sexual sensation.
“Leave time and space to begin to think in a more sexual way. So don’t fill up every moment of your day with stuff. Focus on: ‘What does my body ask for? What feels nice? People shower all the time, but how often when we’re in the shower do we really feel the impact of the water on our skin, or how creamy the shower gel is?
“Once you begin to learn about how your body feels, how it senses the world, how it begins to experience pleasure, you are pulled back into your body to really begin to experience in a very basic way what it’s like.”
Reflecting on what has made you feel sexual in the past can also help increase libido, Walsh explains. She advises asking yourself your conditions for good sex – maybe it’s good bedding; a workout; being warm – and then asking why they feel good.
How couples can improve their sex drive, together
This reflection can also help couples understand each others’ sex drive, Freya notes.
“Gen Z couples can improve their desire for each other by prioritising quality time together, ideally with the phones stored in the cupboard,” she says. “Activities like playing a board game, reading a book together, visiting a concert, or watching a sex education course can redefine the time we spend together and trigger conversations about what we like and dislike.
“Open communication about how we can experience sexual pleasure exactly and exploring our preferences can also boost confidence and desire.”
So there you have it, get off your screen, close your eyes, and think about the last time you were really turned on!