Relationships have always been complicated, but for Gen Z, they have become a puzzle shaped by a world full of possibilities. Growing up with social media, global mobility, and the ability to reinvent themselves at any moment, this generation can date anyone, work anywhere in the globe, and transform their lives almost overnight. In theory, these opportunities should feel liberating, but in practice, they often make commitment feel like a trap. Choosing one path can feel like closing every other door forever, and the fear of being stuck in the wrong choice forever has become a silent companion in almost every decision.
Adding to the pressure is the expectation of the “perfect” partner, as if life were a fairy tale. Social media feeds are filled with flawless couples, dreamy dates and relationships without visible conflict, making real-life connections feel fragile or incomplete. Despite this, Gen Z is learning to balance love with personal growth, friendships, and careers, proving that it is possible to maintain meaningful relationships without sacrificing other aspects of life.
Psychologist Barry Schwartz calls this the paradox of choice. When everything is possible, nothing feels certain. The more options Gen Z sees, the less confident they feel in their own decisions, constantly questioning whether something better is just one swipe away. In a world marked by pandemics, economic instability and social change, staying in one relationship can feel risky, while keeping options open seems safer and more flexible.
The Rise of Situationships for gen z
Sociologist Zygmunt Bauman described this long before dating apps existed, calling it liquid modernity. In a liquid society, nothing remains solid for long. Careers, identities, friendships and love are constantly in motion. Commitment can feel heavy, and staying in one relationship can feel like sinking. Gen Z has learned to value adaptability over permanence and movement over depth.
This tension is most visible in the rise of situationships — relationships that are neither casual nor fully serious. Situationships provide intimacy without labels, comfort without risk, and connection without the permanence that can feel suffocating. Many fear that naming or defining a relationship could make it fragile or even ruin it. Yet, situationships also allow emotional closeness while giving space for independence, careers, and social lives. They show that love and connection can exist without rigid rules, and that intimacy does not always require permanence.
Redefining Commitment
The pandemic intensified these patterns. Life paused just as many were supposed to explore independence, start careers, or experience first relationships. These milestones were delayed or lost, creating a generation eager to experience everything at once — love, travel, work, independence, creativity… — while fearing missing out again. In the rush to do it all, it is easy to feel everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
Gen Z is praised for being self-aware and emotionally intelligent, but these traits come with exhaustion. The generation craves stability as much as freedom, seeking connection without losing independence and a sense of home without losing the ability to leave. Bauman might call this liquid life, and perhaps it is not negative. Learning to flow, adapt, and embrace change may be one of the most important survival skills in a world that never stops moving.
Ultimately, perhaps Gen Z is not afraid of commitment itself, but of forever. Commitment can be redefined as presence rather than permanence, as choosing someone, something, or somewhere intentionally, even if only for an uncertain period of time. In the end, all the ways still lead to Rome, but for this generation, Rome is no longer a single fixed destination. It is wherever they pause, fully embrace the moment and give themselves to it completely, while continuing to nurture their own growth, ambitions, and friendships.
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The article above was edited by Alyah Gomes.
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