Gen Alpha Hasn’t Started Dating. They’ve Already Set the Rules.

Publisher preview

Older Gen Alpha hasn’t started seriously dating yet. Only 20% have been in a relationship. But new Match Group research shows they already have an idea what dating should look like once they get there, and it seems like the kids may be alright. We fielded a two-part study: a nationally representative survey of 823 older Gen Alpha teens ages 13 to 15 in the U.S., building on an earlier qualitative phase of one-on-one interviews and focus groups with 14- to 19-year-olds. Every participant under 18 took part with parental or guardian consent – and they aren’t active users of Match Group’s apps, which are strictly 18+. So much time and research has been devoted to Gen Z dating, generating concerns regarding loneliness and disinterest in companionship. Looking ahead, we are seeking to understand if Gen Z is unique, or if this is the start of a fundamental shift in how people date. Match Group asked Gen Alpha about the attitudes they are already forming around friendships and relationships, and how technology, culture, and life-stage experiences are shaping their approach to connection. The responses point to something encouraging: Gen Alpha is interested in real connection, comfortable setting their own schedule, and hopeful about what relationships could eventually become. That’s where we see the possibility of a Great Reconnection, with early signals that the future of dating may look brighter than it has in years.

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