Tinder says Gen Z still believes in true love—they just want a soft launch first (exclusive)

Gen Z still believes in true love, even if the pursuit looks a little different from their parents’ generation.

That’s according to a new Tinder x Harris Poll white paper shared exclusively with Fast Company. The survey was conducted online in the U.S. on behalf of Match Group by the Harris Poll from September to October 2025, among a nationally representative sample of 2,500 single adults ages 18 to 79.

Some 80% of Gen Z singles said they believe they’ll find true love, and 74% said they believe they’ll get married, compared to 57% and 43% of all singles, respectively.

That might surprise some at a time when young people are reportedly having less sex, going out less, and facing more rejection—romantic or otherwise—than ever before.

Rather than signaling a romance recession for Gen Z, these trends point to an inflection point in dating culture. Traditional relationship milestones are becoming outdated. Young adults are slowing down their pursuit of finding “the one,” owning a home, and having kids.

For now, Gen Zers are prioritizing “micro-commitments” over milestones.

“Previous generations often moved through commitment in a few headline steps: Define the relationship, meet the family, move in, get engaged,” Devyn Simone, Tinder’s resident relationship expert, tells Fast Company. “Gen Z still wants the ceremonies eventually, but they’re building ‘proof’ along the way through everyday behaviors, and a lot of those behaviors show up first online.”

That might look like being added to Close Friends, sending voice notes, or being introduced to the group chat. The soft launch has become a modern relationship milestone. Of the single Gen Z respondents surveyed by Tinder, 46% who use social media said they soft launch their relationships, while 37% said they hard launch their relationships, compared with 12% and 10% of single social media users over the age of 45.

The ultimate green flag

For those who have hard launched a relationship on social media, 81% believe it’s an important sign of commitment. Location sharing is another modern way to hard launch a relationship in the internet age. “What’s important to understand is that these aren’t frivolous internet behaviors,” says Simone. “They’re Gen Z’s way of making connections tangible and visible while still pacing themselves.”

Throughout different stages—from first date to marriage, and sometimes divorce—many share their relationships candidly online in much the same way they would with a trusted confidant: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Ick lists—of instant turnoffs that end romantic interest—are frequently crowdsourced online. Common offenses include being rude to service staff, or an inability to communicate or handle conflict, with 28% of Gen Z singles strongly agreeing that the ick is based on a lack of emotional competence or social skills, compared to just 17% of older singles.

These social and emotional competencies have become more important for Gen Z than traditional compatibility markers like financial success or career achievement, according to Tinder.

A boyfriend? In this economy?

Gen Z expects romantic partners not only to have the skills to communicate but also the willingness to engage in those conversations. In a Tinder survey cited in the white paper, 56% said honest conversations matter, and those who don’t meet the bare minimum are no longer being excused.

Cynicism about heterosexual relationships is more widespread than ever. Only 55% of Gen Zers feel ready for romantic relationships right now, and 75% are not in a hurry to find a partner.

Context matters. “Gen Z is coming of age in a moment defined by economic uncertainty, shifting cultural norms around marriage and children, and a broader redefinition of what adulthood looks like,” says Simone. “Instead of making sweeping promises about forever, Gen Z tends to ask, ‘Are we aligned right now? Are we building something that feels healthy?’”

Rather than diving headfirst into a rental agreement, marriage, or any other kind of legally binding commitment, small milestones help build trust incrementally, reducing risk for a generation that has watched the social contract disintegrate before their eyes.

That doesn’t mean Gen Z is turning its back on connection. Quite the opposite: 33% of Gen Zers strongly agree that expanding their social network is important, compared to 20% of older singles.

Maybe the real “milestones” were the friends we made along the way

Instead of solely chasing romantic connections, Gen Z is also pursuing mentorship, community, and friendships that may or may not blossom into romance. “For many Gen Z daters, connection might begin in group settings, shared interest spaces, or friend-of-a-friend dynamics,” says Simone. “What they need are tools that reflect how relationships actually unfold today: gradually, socially, and often in community.”

This has led Tinder and other dating apps to rethink how best to show up for Gen Z users, prioritizing micro-commitments over grand gestures.

Tinder has recently introduced more casual modes for Gen Zers to meet each other, including its double-date feature and college mode, creating space for moments of connection without romantic pressure. “Sometimes it begins with a follow, a voice note, a shared night out with friends,” says Simone. “All these small signals that, over time, add up to something real.”

Gen Zers aren’t giving up on romantic love. They’re just going steady.

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