The data is in, and it’s not what anyone expected: Gen Z, the digital-first, always-online generation, is going out less, drinking less, and – most surprisingly – having significantly less sex. According to the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey and data from the General Social Survey, sexy times among young adults are in drastic decline. And it’s not just sex that the Gen Z are seemingly not interested in. Clubbing is down. Binge drinking is down. Even dating apps are seeing a drop in daily engagement among users under 25.
So what’s going on? Are Gen Z actually done with fun – or are they just finding it in different places?
Gen Z Isn’t Losing Interest in Fun – They’re Redefining It
It’s tempting to call Gen Z anti-social, overly cautious, or just chronically online, but that would be missing the real story. They’re not ditching fun – they’re customizing it. The old models of partying and hookup culture don’t always match their reality. And in a world where mental health awareness, economic anxiety, and digital fatigue are daily companions, staying in is often more appealing than going out.
When it comes to sex, the shift is especially clear. Young adults aren’t necessarily having less desire – they’re just engaging with sexuality in new ways. According to Jess Weaver, Head of Marketing at the EdenFantasys sex toy store, there’s been a noticeable surge in solo-focused purchases from customers under 25. “We’re seeing a huge interest in sex toys that support self-discovery – especially those that are quiet, app-controlled, or aesthetically designed to feel less clinical and more personal,” she says. “They’re not waiting for someone else to explore their sexuality with. They’re taking the lead themselves.”
Why Gen Z Is Rewriting the Rules of Sex, Pleasure, and Nightlife
Let’s zoom out. Why are 20-somethings opting out of clubbing, casual sex, and all-night benders? Because the context around them has changed drastically.
Culturally, they were raised during a time of unprecedented awareness around consent, trauma, and emotional safety. Casual hookups – once seen as exciting – now carry more emotional and psychological weight. Economically, many are still living with family, juggling side hustles, and dealing with massive student debt. Going out isn’t just risky – it’s expensive and exhausting. And digitally, they’re overstimulated, overconnected, and in desperate need of real rest.
In short? The high-energy, high-risk lifestyle doesn’t always match what their bodies and brains actually need.
Instead, they’re finding joy in slow, controlled, private pleasure – which is why the wellness market is booming among Gen Z. Things that support self-care, wellness, health, slow loving, “touching grass” – and promote arousal, too – are becoming mainstream. The shift is clear: Gen Z isn’t anti-sex or fun or partying, they’re just done with a performative lifestyle. They want intimacy, yes – but only if it doesn’t compromise their comfort.
What Happens When a Whole Generation Steps Back?
This cultural shift is already reshaping multiple industries. Nightlife venues are struggling. Alcohol brands are pivoting hard toward non-alcoholic alternatives. Dating apps are reframing themselves around “meaningful connection” rather than casual swiping. And yes, the sex toy industry is evolving too – offering more beginner-friendly options, gender-inclusive designs, and less stigma around solo use.
Jess Weaver confirms that the pleasure industry is leaning into these changes. “We’re not just novelty or fun providers anymore – we’re curate tools for exploration, self-knowledge, and empowerment. Gen Z customers are intentional. They want to buy a pleasure toy that feels intuitive, respectful of their boundaries, and worth investing in. And we’re meeting that energy.”
But it’s not all progress without cost. Loneliness is high. In-person communication skills are struggling. And while Gen Z may be sidestepping some of the messier pitfalls of hookup culture, they’re also missing out on some of the awkward, formative experiences that helped shape social skills and emotional resilience for previous generations.
Will they eventually crave more in-person chaos? Maybe. But they’ll do it differently – more consciously, with firmer boundaries and better tools in hand (literally and figuratively).
Less Clubbing, More Curating: What the Future of Pleasure Looks Like
So, are Gen Z actually having less fun? No. They’re just doing it quietly, on their terms, with a well-reviewed sex toy in one hand and a mental health app open in the other. What looks like disinterest from the outside is actually recalibration. They’re choosing sleep over hangovers, solo exploration over risky hookups, and thoughtful stimulation over peer pressure.
It’s not less fun. It’s different fun. And honestly? Might even be smarter.
From the “self-love industry” unique POV, this is the beginning of a more mindful pleasure culture – one where your sex toy drawer matters more than your club outfit and where being alone doesn’t mean being disconnected. It means being in tune.