The best way to analyze various generations’ love lives is to look into the dating trends that shaped their affectionate and sexy moments this year. A review of Gen Z and Millennial 2023 romance trends is eye-opening. According to eharmony dating trends and expertise, the two generations have redefined the dating scene. From dating woes, ‘sexolutions’, and boundaries, here’s how both GenZ and Millennial singles felt about dating in 2023. 

21Ninety spoke with Minaa.B to understand what dating trends reveal about Gen Z and Millennial daters. The major takeaway is their mindset about dating:  

Minaa B. reveals the key signifier is how self-care influences dating for both generations. She finds it telling that eharmony’s EOY Dating Trends report shows various ways Gen Z and Millenials care for their mental health and sexual wellness. These generations were more intentional regarding who and how they date, their desires, and much more. 

“Sexual wellness is mental health, and Millennial trends speak to a culture of people feeling more sexual freedom. Millennials also want to lessen the stigma around what it means to be single and have an active healthy sex life,” she says. 

“In an era where Gen Z and Millennials are becoming more confident with their boundaries, 49% of Millennials prioritize strong relationships,” she states. “They aren’t chasing after people who exhibit red flags anymore. Instead, they’re focusing on people who nourish them and regulate their nervous system,” she continues. These generations focus on wellness and do their best to well-rounded and healthy lifestyles. Minaa B. notes that Gen Z center reciprocity, vulnerability, safety, and, most importantly, effort.

Dating Leagues: Gen Z vs Millennials 

 It seems Gen Zs have a clearer sense of what they’re looking for in their desired relationships. Gen Z and millennials dating values transform as mental health, quality of life, love, and self-reflection become more valuable. 

The report shows the top qualities that Gen Z singles opt for in 2024: emotional intelligence (28%), humor (23%), and intelligence (16%). In comparison, millennials have shared desires. Emotional intelligence comes in first for millennials (26%), then intelligence (19%) and physical attractiveness (15%). 

The Body Count Stigma 

The conversation around sex and sex shaming is something that both generations want to approach differently. In reflection, both generations hope to wave goodbye to questions about body count, asking a partner how many people they’ve slept with. Data suggests that only 24% of singles believe that the number of people their partner has slept with matters, while 67% of singles don’t feel it’s important. 

Sex Through the Generations 

According to the dating report, Millennials had quite a vibrant sex life in 2023. The survey shows that single millennials slept with more people than any other generation in 2023 (45%), they’re not done yet. 38% want more sex in 2024, while 36% of Gen Z’s ‘sexolutions’ for the coming year are based heavily on communicating their sexual needs to their partners. 

Intentional Dating and Meaningful Connections

As 2023 comes to a close, Gen Z and Millennial daters welcome healthier dating trends. Gen Zs are in their fearless era and aren’t letting the past hold them back. The report shows that 48% of Gen Z singles have dating regrets from 2023. These regrets stem from not putting their needs first. Their biggest regret was putting their love life above their personal lives. Now they’re ready to embrace long-term relationships (49%) and intentional dating (47%). The report shows the main regret from Millennials was not pursuing a crush (27%). Meanwhile, Milennials are prioritizing strong relationships, with 49% wanting, above all, a healthier relationship in 2024.