Gen Z singles giving up on dating as ‘loneliness epidemic' spirals: poll
'We're single because we're out here looking for '90s love in this generation,' one fed-up TikToker declared. 'We want slow jams, handwritten notes and phone calls on landlines . . . not 'what are you doing' texts followed by eight hours of silence.'
A new Rasmussen Reports poll of more than 1,200 American adults shows 37% of singles under 30 say they're not interested in dating, with half of all singles saying they're not even looking.
3 Gen Z is increasingly reluctant to date, with 37% of singles under 30 saying they're not interested in a relationship.
Home-stock – stock.adobe.com
Even the apps can't keep love alive: only 33% of singles have ever used one, and nearly a third of those say they've logged off for good.
Democrats were the most likely to be single and not looking, with 49% opting out, while Republicans were more likely to be married and off the apps entirely, with 59% reporting they were hitched, the poll found.
That trend shifts by age and gender: among singles under 40, men were more likely than women to say they're not interested in dating, at 39% compared to 30% — a reversal of older age groups, where women were more likely to opt out.
The findings mirror a broader hesitation around dating itself, as more young adults question whether it's worth the time, energy or emotional cost.
'Gen Z is pulling back from romantic relationships overall, not just marriage,' said Dr. Jean Twenge, author of 'Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents — and What They Mean for America's Future.' 'They are more interested in safety than previous generations . . . and they may see dating as unsafe given its potential for hurt.'
In 2000, 80% of U.S. high school seniors had dated in the past year. By 2023, that number had dropped to 45%, according to nationally representative data cited by Twenge.
This generational pullback is now part of what researchers call a growing 'loneliness epidemic.'
A 2024 study by market research company GlobalWebIndex found 80% of Gen Z respondents said they'd felt lonely in the past year, more than any other generation surveyed.
3 Gen Z doesn't think dating is worth the time or stress and while many may crave intimacy, they don't want endless scrolling or awkward conversations with strangers.
oatawa – stock.adobe.com
The 'why' is complex: rising depression rates, a decline in in-person friendships and even easy access to pornography may all be playing a role, Twenge said.
But other experts say the shift isn't about giving up on love, just reordering priorities.
'Finding a romantic partner isn't a primary goal — instead, they're prioritizing their mental well-being and dreams for their career,' said Amanda Gesselman, director of sex and relationship science at Match.com.
Many young people may crave intimacy, just not the kind that starts with endless scrolling or awkward conversations with strangers, said Deborah Tannen, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University.
'They are not comfortable talking to people they don't already know from some natural connection,' Tannen told The Post. 'If their experience of dating is associated with apps, it's easy to understand why many might decide to swear off: too alienating, too much disappointment, too intimidating to put oneself on the line that way.'
That discomfort shows up in daily habits, too.
3 In 2000, 80% of U.S. high school seniors had dated in the past year. By 2023, that number had dropped to 45%, according to nationally representative data.
Davide Angelini – stock.adobe.com
Some Gen Zers even avoid calling restaurants and prefer to order online, a small example of how communication itself feels riskier to them, Tannen said.
On TikTok, the frustration plays out in real time.
One post with nearly 300,000 likes read, 'Single because this generation is full of lust, liars and cheaters.'
Another viral video, which pulled in more than 800,000 likes, put it more personally: 'Me trying to explain to my friends how I'm literally going to be single forever because dating in this generation is stupid and I'm tired of mfs playing with my time.'
Others kept it blunt.
'I'm staying single for the rest of my life,' one user wrote.
'Single because no guy will ever understand me,' another added.
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Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Osprey came back from the brink once. Now chicks are dying in nests, and some blame overfishing.
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Menhaden is valuable for fish oil, fish meal and agricultural food as well as bait. U.S. fishermen have caught at least 1.1 billion pounds of menhaden every year since 1951. Members of the industry tout its sustainability and said the decline in osprey may have nothing to do with fishing. Advertisement But without help, the osprey population could tumble to levels not seen since the dark days of DDT, said Watts, director of the Center for Conservation Biology at The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. 'The osprey are yelling pretty loudly that, hey, there's not enough menhaden for us to reproduce successfully,' Watts said. 'And we should be listening to them to be more informed fully on the fisheries side, and we should take precaution on the fisheries management side. But that hasn't won the day at this point.' Watts, who has studied osprey on the Chesapeake for decades, has backed his claims of population decline by publishing studies in scientific journals. He said it boils down to a simple statistic — to maintain population, osprey pairs need to average 1.15 chicks per year. Osprey were reproducing at that level in the 1980s, but today in some areas around the main stem of the Chesapeake, it's less than half of that, Watts said. In particularly distressed areas, they aren't even reproducing at one-tenth that level, he said. And the decline in available menhaden matches the areas of nesting failure, Watts said. Also called pogies or bunkers, the oily menhaden are especially important for young birds because they are more nutritious than other fish in the sea. Osprey 'reproductive performance is inextricably linked to the availability and abundance' of menhaden, Watts wrote in a 2023 study published in Frontiers in Marine Science. Conservationists have been concerned for years, saying too many menhaden have been removed to maintain their crucial role in the ocean food chain. Historian H. Bruce Franklin went so far as to title his 2007 book on menhaden 'The Most Important Fish In The Sea.' Advertisement Menhaden help sustain one of the world's largest fisheries, worth more than $200 million at the docks in 2023. Used as bait, the fish are critical for valuable commercial targets such as Maine lobster. They're also beloved by sportfishermen. The modern industry is dominated by Omega Protein, a Reedville, Virginia, company that is a subsidiary of Canadian aquaculture giant Cooke. The harvesting of the menhaden is performed by an American company, Ocean Harvesters, which is based in Reedville and contracts with Omega, which handles processing. The companies pushed back at the idea that fishing is the cause of osprey decline, although they did acknowledge that fewer menhaden are showing up in some parts of the bay. Federal data show osprey breeding is in decline in many parts of the country, including where menhaden is not harvested at all, said Ben Landry, an Omega spokesperson. Climate change, pollution and development could be playing a role, said Landry and others with the company. Blaming fishing 'just reeks of environmental special interest groups having an influence over the process,' Landry said. The menhaden fishery is managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, an interstate body that crafts rules and sets fishing quotas. Prompted by questions about ospreys, it created a work group to address precautionary management of the species in the Chesapeake Bay. In April, this group proposed several potential management approaches, including seasonal closures, restrictions on quotas or days at sea, and limitations on kinds of fishing gear. The process of creating new rules could begin this summer, said James Boyle, fishery management plan coordinator with the commission. Advertisement The osprey population has indeed shown declines in some areas since 2012, but it's important to remember the bird's population is much larger than it was before DDT was banned, Boyle said. 'There are big increases in osprey population since the DDT era,' Boyle said, citing federal data showing a six-fold increase in osprey populations along the Atlantic Coast since the 1960s. To a number of environmental groups, any decline is too much. This irritates some labor leaders who worry about losing more jobs as the fishing industry declines. Kenny Pinkard, retired vice president of UFCW Local 400's executive board and a longtime Virginia fishermen, said he feels the industry is being scapegoated. 'There are some people who just don't want to see us in business at all,' he said. But Chris Moore, Virginia executive director for Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said the country risks losing an iconic bird if no action is taken. 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New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
How Greece and Germany helped make archeology modern
Watching an American icon like Indiana Jones battle Nazis in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' it's hard to believe that it was actually a German cultural institute which played a pivotal role in transforming reckless Jones-style treasure hunting into the modern science of archaeology we know today. That institute, the German Archaeological Institute at Athens (DAI Athens), has just completed the year-long celebration of its 150th anniversary — just as Greece welcomes record numbers of summer tourists to marvel at the archaeological wonders the institute helped unearth. Widely regarded as one of the birthplaces of modern archaeological science, the DAI pioneered the transition from indiscriminate digging at archaeological sites to the systematic excavation and meticulous study that continues to inspire researchers and amateur archaeology buffs across the globe. Advertisement 11 Archaeological Site of Olympia in Greece, excavated by the Germans in 1875 in what is regarded as the first 'dig' to employ the rigorous academic and scientific practices now used in archeology across the globe. dudlajzov – 11 The ruins of Ancient Olympia. elgreko – 11 The headquarters of the DAI Athens, the German-run archeological institute which helped establish modern archeology. DAI Athens, Photographer H. Birk Until the mid-19th century, archeology was often more about treasure hunting and indiscriminate looting than detailed research and science. Advertisement Take Lord Elgin's controversial removal of sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens, between 1801 and 1812. Although Elgin claimed to have obtained permission from Ottoman authorities — a claim recently refuted by the Turkish government — his sale of the sculptures to the British Museum remains a major cultural and diplomatic dispute between Greece and Britain. Many view Elgin's deeds as one of the most notorious colonial-era lootings, alongside famous antiquities brought to museums around the world like the Rosetta Stone. 11 'Greece's allure was such that many countries fought to establish archaeological institutes at the time. Today, there are 20 foreign institutes based in Athens,' says DAI Director Katja Sporn. DAI Athens, Photographer N. Chrisikakis Advertisement Even Luigi Palma di Cesnola, the first director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, was accused of looting classical treasures from Cyprus, where he served as US Consul General in the mid-1860s. Many of the artifacts di Cesnola was said to have plundered were sold, ironically, to the Met itself. During this period, Greece, newly independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1830, was rich in history but in economic decline owing to decades of war. But it was finally possible for the philhellenists (lovers of Greek culture) to travel to Greece and study its ancient remains. In the later part of the 19th century, Greece's ancient ruins also became magnets for the era's great expansionist powers like the United Kingdom and France. Their ultimate goal? Securing rights to excavate Greece's most coveted archaeological sites while bolstering diplomatic ties through what we now call 'cultural diplomacy.' 11 Luigi Palma Di Cesnola, the first director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, who was accused of looting ancient relics from Cyprus. Getty Images Advertisement Germany was just one of the many countries aspiring to gain excavation rights in Greece. 'The oldest foreign archaeological institute in Athens is the French School of Athens, founded in 1846,' explains Katja Sporn, director of the DAI Athens. 'But Greece's allure was such that many countries fought to establish archaeological institutes at the time. Today, there are 20 foreign institutes based in Athens.' The DAI Athens was founded in 1874, just three years after German unification, during a period of growing German nationalism. Part of the German Archaeological Institute based in Berlin, the DAI Athens' creation reflected the importance of Greek history to Kaiser Wilhelm I and the close political ties between Germany and Greece, whose first king, Otto, hailed from a Bavarian royal family. Many Germans at the time saw parallels between Greece's struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire and their own aspirations for national unification. In the same year the DAI Athens was founded, Sporn explains, the 'DAI became subordinate to Germany's Foreign Office 'as a permanent base for internationally active research.' 11 While the Germans were successful in securing and excavating Olympia, their French institutional counterparts were able to excavate Delphi (above). Getty Images Today, the DAI Athens is housed in a neoclassical building in downtown Athens where an exhibition for its 150th anniversary showcases its storied history. Among the figures featured is Heinrich Schliemann, an 'amateur' archaeologist and businessman who promoted archaeology to a wider public by his emblematic excavations in Troy and Mycenae. The figure who truly transformed archaeology was the institute's fourth director, Wilhelm Dörpfeld, who arrived at the DAI Athens in 1887. An architect trained at the excavations in Olympia, Dörpfeld pioneered stratigraphic excavation and both archaeological and architectural documentation methods. These revolutionized the field by allowing archaeologists to piece together detailed site histories while preserving them for future study. 'Dörpfeld's work was a turning point,' says Sporn. 'Archaeologists then worked methodically rather than destructively.' Natalia Vogeikoff-Brogan, the Doreen C. Spritzer Director of Archives at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA), agrees. 'Dörpfeld's techniques were taught to archaeologists from Germany, Britain, France and the United States, who then applied and passed them on worldwide,' she says. Advertisement 11 A map of where the discoveries were made. Toni Misthos/NY Post Design This shift — from looting the ancient world to rigorous excavation and research — became the gold standard, paving the way for discoveries such as the tomb of King Tutankhamen by Howard Carter in 1922 and inspiring the swashbuckling tales of Indiana Jones. Some 150 years ago, in 1875, the German Kaiserreich began excavating the ancient sanctuary of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games — and the place from which the Olympic torch is now lit 100 days before the start of the modern Olympics every four years. Olympia wasn't just another dig; it was governed by a bilateral treaty between Greece and Germany, setting unprecedented levels of oversight for excavation and preservation. Funded by the German government and backed by King George I of Greece, the dig benefited from both financial investment and diplomatic backing. Advertisement 11 Natalia Vogeikoff-Brogan, the Doreen C. Spritzer Director of Archives at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. American School of Classical Studies at Athens/Facebook 'Olympia remains one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece,' says Sporn. The excavation uncovered iconic treasures like sculptures from the Temple of Zeus and the statue of Hermes by Praxiteles, but mainly the actual buildings and places where the famous Olympic games were held in antiquity. Yet the dig — partially overseen by Dörpfeld before he led the DAI — is not only important for what it found, but how it was conducted. An interdisciplinary team, including archaeologists, architects, historians and conservators, ensured a holistic approach to the study of the site and created a global model for archaeological collaborations that remains the gold standard to this day. Starting from the old excavations in Olympia, the DAI Athens sought to preserve the fragile remnants of Olympia's past by systematically recording findings and by publishing results in a series of reports. The approach facilitated scholarly research across Europe, shaped future standards for transparency and data-sharing and established archaeology as a rigorous academic discipline. Advertisement 11 Wilhelm Dörpfeld, the fourth DAI Athens director, who pioneered stratigraphic excavation and both archaeological and architectural documentation methods. Archive of the City of Wuppertal, photographer anonymous Crucially, the collaboration with the Greek state ensured that artifacts remained in Greece rather than being shipped off to a museum or private collection abroad, as was common practice at the time. This led to the creation of a dedicated museum at Olympia financed by a Greek patron as early as 1886 — the first on-site museum in the Mediterranean — where the site's most important finds could be studied and displayed in their original cultural context. Today, museums aligned with excavation sites have become common across the globe. Ultimately, the dig established 'responsible excavation' standards and early conservation techniques that remain in practice to this day. Back then, Olympia's success sparked fierce competition among nations vying for other important Greek sites. 'A rivalry developed between Germany, France and the United States over the most significant excavations,' says Vogeikoff-Brogan. Advertisement They became a battle for prestige among great powers, fueling political alliances between Greece and other countries. For the first time, economic considerations, like trade, would be factored in by Greece to determine who would get the rights to dig the most coveted archaeological sites. Archaeology became an expression not just of Greek national culture — but its newly emerging political might. 11 German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaking at the 150th Anniversary celebrations of the DAI Athens. Presse- und Informationsamt der Bundesregierung/ Guido Bergmann The French secured Delphi, aided by trade negotiations involving, of all things, Zante currants, while the Americans started excavations in Corinth and eventually the Agora in Athens, leveraging political alliances and personal relationships. 'Social capital and political connections were just as important as archaeological merit in these decisions,' Vogeikoff-Brogan adds. The positive relationship between the Greek state, its people and the DAI Athens faced a severe setback during WWII. The institute's ties to Nazi Germany through its director being leader of the German Nazi party in Greece deeply damaged its standing in the country — underscoring the entanglement between DAI Athens and Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'After WWII, it took time for the DAI Athens to regain the trust of the Greek community and reopen,' Sporn explains. The war left lasting scars, and Greeks remained wary of German institutions due to the atrocities committed during the occupation. Meanwhile, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) gained prominence in Greece by deliberately distancing itself from politics, establishing itself as another of Greece's most prominent foreign archaeological and historical education and research institutes. 11 Otto, the first King of Greece, who ruled the nation after its independence from the Ottoman Empire and helped establish Greece as an archeological the DAI Athens has long embraced modernity, digitizing its vast archives for global access and integrating new technologies into its research, particularly in the context of past human-nature relations, ancient land use and climate change. Like all Greek foreign archeological institutions, the DAI works in close collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. And by studying how ancient communities adapted to environmental shifts, the institute aims to offer insights into resilience strategies relevant today. 'By examining the past, the DAI Athens continues to research important topics of the present, which may offer perspectives for the future,' Sporn says. Cheryl Ann Novak is deputy chief editor at BHMA International Edition — Wall Street Journal Publishing Partnership
New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
Gen Z singles giving up on dating as ‘loneliness epidemic' spirals: poll
Burned out by ghosting, mixed signals and endless 'situationships,' young singles are calling it quits on dating — no longer holding out for a fairytale ending that never texts back. 'We're single because we're out here looking for '90s love in this generation,' one fed-up TikToker declared. 'We want slow jams, handwritten notes and phone calls on landlines . . . not 'what are you doing' texts followed by eight hours of silence.' A new Rasmussen Reports poll of more than 1,200 American adults shows 37% of singles under 30 say they're not interested in dating, with half of all singles saying they're not even looking. 3 Gen Z is increasingly reluctant to date, with 37% of singles under 30 saying they're not interested in a relationship. Home-stock – Even the apps can't keep love alive: only 33% of singles have ever used one, and nearly a third of those say they've logged off for good. Democrats were the most likely to be single and not looking, with 49% opting out, while Republicans were more likely to be married and off the apps entirely, with 59% reporting they were hitched, the poll found. That trend shifts by age and gender: among singles under 40, men were more likely than women to say they're not interested in dating, at 39% compared to 30% — a reversal of older age groups, where women were more likely to opt out. The findings mirror a broader hesitation around dating itself, as more young adults question whether it's worth the time, energy or emotional cost. 'Gen Z is pulling back from romantic relationships overall, not just marriage,' said Dr. Jean Twenge, author of 'Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents — and What They Mean for America's Future.' 'They are more interested in safety than previous generations . . . and they may see dating as unsafe given its potential for hurt.' In 2000, 80% of U.S. high school seniors had dated in the past year. By 2023, that number had dropped to 45%, according to nationally representative data cited by Twenge. This generational pullback is now part of what researchers call a growing 'loneliness epidemic.' A 2024 study by market research company GlobalWebIndex found 80% of Gen Z respondents said they'd felt lonely in the past year, more than any other generation surveyed. 3 Gen Z doesn't think dating is worth the time or stress and while many may crave intimacy, they don't want endless scrolling or awkward conversations with strangers. oatawa – The 'why' is complex: rising depression rates, a decline in in-person friendships and even easy access to pornography may all be playing a role, Twenge said. But other experts say the shift isn't about giving up on love, just reordering priorities. 'Finding a romantic partner isn't a primary goal — instead, they're prioritizing their mental well-being and dreams for their career,' said Amanda Gesselman, director of sex and relationship science at Many young people may crave intimacy, just not the kind that starts with endless scrolling or awkward conversations with strangers, said Deborah Tannen, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University. 'They are not comfortable talking to people they don't already know from some natural connection,' Tannen told The Post. 'If their experience of dating is associated with apps, it's easy to understand why many might decide to swear off: too alienating, too much disappointment, too intimidating to put oneself on the line that way.' That discomfort shows up in daily habits, too. 3 In 2000, 80% of U.S. high school seniors had dated in the past year. By 2023, that number had dropped to 45%, according to nationally representative data. Davide Angelini – Some Gen Zers even avoid calling restaurants and prefer to order online, a small example of how communication itself feels riskier to them, Tannen said. On TikTok, the frustration plays out in real time. One post with nearly 300,000 likes read, 'Single because this generation is full of lust, liars and cheaters.' Another viral video, which pulled in more than 800,000 likes, put it more personally: 'Me trying to explain to my friends how I'm literally going to be single forever because dating in this generation is stupid and I'm tired of mfs playing with my time.' Others kept it blunt. 'I'm staying single for the rest of my life,' one user wrote. 'Single because no guy will ever understand me,' another added.
