Are Young People Really Less Interested in Sex? Here's What a Playboy Study Found

Playboy magazine, together with reproductive health service Julie and the Kinsey Institute, conducted a survey on sex and relationships among Generation Z. Researchers surveyed 2,373 U.S. residents aged 18 to 29 to find out whether the so-called “sexual recession” is real and what is actually happening in young people's intimate lives.

Key takeaways

• The sexual recession is real, but it is not due to a lack of desire. Gen Zers have sexual desire, but financial difficulties, living with their parents, fear of rejection, and dating app fatigue get in the way.
• Polarized experiences: one fifth of respondents (20%) have never had sex, while another fifth have had 10 or more partners in their lifetime.
• More kissing, less conventional sex: almost half of respondents (48,5%) kiss almost every day, but 40% had not had vaginal sex in the past three months.
• Finances and living with parents are the main barriers: two-thirds of single Gen Zers living with their parents had not had a single sexual partner in the past three months.

Are Gen Zers really having less sex?

Yes, statistics confirm a decline in sexual activity, but the picture is mixed. The study revealed a deep divide within the generation: 20% of young people had never had any sexual experience, while 20% report having 10 or more lifetime partners. At the same time, 53% of respondents believe they have sex less often than their peers.

When it comes to specific practices, Gen Zers readily show affection but are less likely to engage in penetrative sex:

• 48,5% kiss almost every day;
• 40% of respondents had not had vaginal sex in the past three months;
• 73% had not had anal sex during the same period.

The decline in sexual activity also extended to masturbation: 36% респондентов отметили, что не мастурбировали за последние три месяца. However, there are exceptions: among gay men, having 10 or more lifetime partners was reported by 35%, which is higher than in any other group.

Why Are Gen Zers Having Less Sex?

The study's authors emphasize that the issue is not a lack of sexual desire, but rather limited opportunities and external barriers. Most single respondents report moderate or high levels of sexual desire. However, the following factors prevent them from acting on it:

1. Fear of Rejection and Social Anxiety

60% респондентов признаются, что боятся отказа. High levels of social anxiety make it difficult for many people to even start a conversation with someone. In addition, 66,5% feel there are too few opportunities to meet people in person, while dating apps leave them feeling burned out.

2. Financial Crisis and the Cost of Dating

Romance requires resources that young people often lack. The number of entry-level job openings has fallen by 35%, while cocktails at bars cost $30 each.

• 43% of respondents said that financial difficulties make dating and maintaining relationships more challenging.
• 39% have stopped actively looking for a partner altogether due to a lack of money.
• 39% noted that the cost of dating directly limits their opportunities for romance and sex.

3. Living with parents

Being forced to live with family helps save money but negatively affects their sex lives.

• One-third of the young people surveyed live with their parents.
• Among single Gen Zers living with their parents, 64% had not had any partners in the past three months. By comparison, among those sharing rented accommodation with roommates, the figure was 38%, while among those living alone, it was 27%.
• 25% of respondents said their parents still strictly control their lives and set rules.

4. Shifting priorities

Digital intimacy: porn as a substitute for a partner

Young people's sex lives are increasingly moving into the digital realm. One in three young adults sometimes chooses a digital or solo experience over sex with a partner.

For some respondents, pornography has become not a complement to relationships, but a substitute for them. 34% молодых мужчин заявили, что порно полностью удовлетворяет их сексуальные потребности. Respondents note that this option is easier, more accessible, and does not require the emotional investment needed for real-life relationships.

Health, contraception, and antidepressants

The study also addressed sexual health issues:

• The impact of social media: 31% of respondents admitted that social media content had made them less likely to use hormonal contraception.
• Inconsistent protection: 16% (one in six) do not use any form of contraception at all, while 15% never use condoms during vaginal sex. One-third of respondents have never been tested for STIs.
• Antidepressants: Young people taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications report having sex less frequently and being less satisfied with it, although their level of sexual desire remains unchanged.

So, is there a “sexual recession”?

The sexual recession is real, but it is driven by external circumstances rather than this generation's “frigidity”. Gen Zers have the desire, but lack confidence, privacy, and money. At the same time, most young people in relationships are quite satisfied with their intimate lives, and Gen Zers experience little stress over how much sex they are having—most rate their sex lives as average or above average.