Based on recent research and studies, Generation Z (born 1997–2012) is often viewed as a paradox regarding sexuality: while they are exposed to highly sexualized digital content, they are actually engaging in less sexual behavior and expressing a desire for less sex in media compared to previous generations.
Which generation are you from? According to the most recent 2024 Gallup data on LGBTQ+ identity, 23% of Gen Z openly identifies as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, or another LGBTQ+ identity. This is followed by 14% of Millenials, 5% of Gen X, 3% of Baby Boomers, and just 2% of the Silent Generation.
A study by the Kinsey Institute and DatingAdvice.com found that more than one in three Gen Z single adults identify as celibate, with one in five identifying their celibacy as involuntary. Over 15% of Gen Z men and nearly 18% of women intentionally chose to be celibate.
Generation Z (Gen Z) is often labeled the "unhappiest generation," reporting higher rates of anxiety, depression, and despair than previous generations at the same age, driven by factors like intense social media use, economic instability, academic pressure, and growing up amidst global crises (pandemic, climate change) that have disrupted traditional life paths, challenging the "happiness hump" where midlife was usually the lowest point, with unhappiness now hitting young people earlier, say researchers from Dartmouth College and other universities.
As we can see in the chart above, 23% of Gen Z respondents self-identified as bisexual, vs a 9% mean of other generations (a 146% rise). Attraction to the same sex at least 10% of the time went from 17% to 32% (an 88% rise), and attraction at least 25% of the time went from 6% to 23% (a 280% rise).
Most of the uptick in LGBTQ identity over the past decade is due to a dramatic increase among young adults, particularly young women. In less than a decade, the percentage of young women who identify as LGBTQ has more than tripled. The gender gap in LGBTQ identity has exploded as well.
In the U.S. for example, 19 percent of Gen Zers self-identified as a part of the LGBT+ community versus 11 percent of Millennials, 6 percent of Gen Xers and only 5 percent among Baby Boomers. This chart shows the share of respondents who identify as LGBT+ in selected countries.
The 💦 (Sweat Droplets) emoji in text has multiple meanings, ranging from literal water, sweat, or rain to slang for sexual fluids, "drip" (style), or feeling overwhelmed/nervous, often depending on the context and accompanying emojis like 🍆 (eggplant) for sexual connotations or 👅 (tongue) for mouth-watering. It can literally mean something is wet (pool, rain) or someone is sweating from heat or anxiety, but also represents liquid in a suggestive way.
Trend expert Shayan Faraz says that the CL emoji 🆑 means to clear or delete something. It's designed after the red “clear” button on old-school phones and calculators. Send the 🆑 emoji to talk about clearing schedules, clearing the air after an argument, or cleansing yourself of anything from social media to sugar.
First, Gen Z sees the world as a scary place due to factors including their experiences during the Covid-19 lockdown and fears of shootings. Second, Gen Z are increasingly cynical about their ability to change the world, which is tied to their views on politics and experiences with protest.
Demographics. A report by demographer William Frey suggests that as of 2019, 50.9% of Generation Z is white, 13.8% is black, 25.0% Hispanic, and 5.3% Asian. 29% of Generation Z are children of immigrants or immigrants themselves, compared to 23% of Millennials when they were at the same age.
Members of the generation — also known as Zoomers — have been increasingly drawn toward religion, particularly Christianity, with data showing the number of Americans who don't identify with one particular church is stabilizing thanks to them.
The upside-down face emoji 🙃 is basically code for “this is terrible” or FML. It's used when things aren't going well or the user is having a terrible day. This modern usage is an update to the millennial sense. For the older generation, this emoji often indicated sarcasm or even silliness.
The 🤌 (pinched fingers) emoji means “What do you want?” in Italian. Italians are known for speaking with their hands, and the pinched finger gesture is most associated with the phrase, Ma che vuoi? (“What do you want?”).
