Why is Gen Z more comfortable talking about sex than having it?
Gen Z is breaking the mould: more talk, less action in the bedroom. What’s behind this desire to be young, free and sexless? Let’s take a Deep Dive.
💞 Zoomers are having less sex than previous generations as they are taking their time to explore their sexuality, discovering their orientation and asking thought-provoking questions.
📱 The tech-savvy generation is building connections virtually and pleasuring themselves via easily available sex toys. But this also comes with added anxiety, such as the risk of leaked explicit photos.
🏡 This shift is part of a larger pattern: Gen Z is defying traditional expectations of marriage and long-term relationships amidst challenges in securing jobs and financial stability.
🫦 Gen Z is also driving the conversation about sexual wellness and positivity, staying well-informed and breaking the stigmas of previous generations.
QUOTABLE
“If I was to find a man that truly wowed me, lived close-ish, and actually treated me like a human with feelings, then I’d consider breaking my celibacy.”
— Charlie Michael Baker, a 17-year-old influencer
BY THE NUMBERS
US$58.6 billion The booming sexual wellness industry is expected to reach US$58.6 billion by 2032.
60% Gen Z and millennials make up 60 percent of the consumer base for sex toys.
3 The average number of times Zoomers have sex in one month is 3, compared to 5 for both millennials and Gen X-ers.
QUIZ
What percentage of Gen Z in the US is sexting?
A. 20%
B. 40%
C. 60%
Scroll to the bottom for the answer.
DID YOU KNOW?
Contrary to popular belief, Gen Z favours monogamy over the more fluid relationship styles (think polyamory and situationships) often associated with their generation.
THE EDIT
📺 Teenage dream. Today’s teens prefer relatable storylines with more platonic relationships. No more sex and trauma, à la HBO’s Euphoria or The Idol.
🤫 BDSM fantasy. Kink is on the rise in general, with a particularly notable increase among younger adults.
🙅🏻♀️ Dazed and confused. A survey discovered that nearly 50 percent of young individuals are inclined to harbour mistaken beliefs about rape and consent.
💉 Designer vaginas. Younger females are opting for labiaplasty surgery to reduce the size of the skin around the vaginal opening.
❤️🩹 Choosing celibacy. An increasing number of Gen Z women are abstaining from sex, a backlash against hookup culture and the role patriarchy and misogyny have played in their sexuality.
WATCH
This video explores the reasons behind the declining sexual activity among young people despite living in an increasingly tolerant culture.
THE FULL PICTURE
The majority of people who buy sex toys and erotic materials online are millennials and Gen Z, making up over 80 percent of the customers.
GEN.T x INNOPARK
Hong Kong startup Datax is harnessing AI for good. Co-founded by Kevin Wong, one of the company’s primary focuses is to construct a large language model akin to ChatGPT for the Cantonese market, helping users generate subtitles, translations and transcripts in more than 80 languages. Discover how Datax is spearheading an AI revolution in Hong Kong.
KEY PLAYERS
Koichi Matsumoto
Koichi Matsumoto is the CEO of Tenga, a company known for its innovative and high-quality male pleasure products, with over 1 million units of goods sold in the first year after its launch. Matsumoto, who used to be in the automotive industry, wants to foster an open and positive dialogue on masturbation and sex.
Lindsay Davis
Lindsay Davis, founder of FemTech Association Asia, aims to make healthcare accessible and affordable for all Asian women. Her group, a member of the Equity 2030 Alliance Member at the United Nations Population Fund, focuses on leveraging technology to enhance women’s health and currently represents over 75 companies across nine Asian countries.
HONOUREE TO KNOW
Claudia Chanhoi
Artist Claudia Chanhoi’s art sparks discussions about female sexuality and challenges taboos with her humorous and sarcastic cartoon figures. She has exhibited internationally, been featured in numerous publications and is known for tweaking her designs to evade Instagram censorship algorithms.
ONE FINAL THING
Even sex toys are evolving. A shift towards intimate wellness speaks volumes about how our views on sex are changing.
