Online dating, Generation Z, marijuana and more

Online dating is here to stay, maybe sort of. A significant portion of the U.S. and Canada use online dating with success. And like most things in mass media, it has woven its way into the culture. Grinder, long known as a gay dating site, paved the way for Tinder, known as a straight dating site. Match.com, the largest dating app, has few filters and lets people choose who they want to date – gay, straight, from different states, ethnicities, and with different streaming habits.

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But despite all the benefits, Generation Z is turning everything on its head. They're turning away from dating apps and meeting people in real life. And they're learning that meeting someone face-to-face rather than going from one date to the next is definitely different. Studies show that the most popular dating app users are between the ages of 30 and 49, mostly millennials, who make up 61% of dating app users, while Generation Z only makes up 26%.

This generation loves grandma's china, vinyl, comfort food and vintage clothing. But they're also inclusive: 41% want clothing retailers to offer more sizes for all body types in their advertising. And they have a very different attitude towards marijuana.

Baby boomers are more skeptical about marijuana. While more people are opening up to it, it's something new to them than, say, beer, wine, or gardening. Generation Z sees marijuana as a better alternative to alcohol. They've started to turn away from alcohol and prefer weed, especially in smaller groups. Since vapes and gummies are easier to transport, have little odor, and are more discreet, it's the sensible solution. Some Generation Z have helped establish California Sober, the method of consuming only marijuana and abstaining from alcohol.

Match.com was the first dating site to add 4/20 Friendly in November 2019. Now it's on most mainstream sites and Gen Z sees it more like asking if you like cocktails. They're also more open to a wider variety of people for short and long-term relationships.

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As Gen Z opens their minds and hearts to in-person dating, they're experiencing what previous generations have long endured. They cite fear of rejection and discomfort as their biggest concerns online. Older generations have more experience with the discomfort of being rejected while dating, both online and in person. Experience helps them frame rejection and bounce back more easily after an uncomfortable encounter, rather than internalizing it as a “discomfort” that can't be overcome.