Are Gen Z Couples Cheating All The Time? Creators Opine

In a relationship, cheating breaches trust and commitment, but its definition can vary based on what partners agree on. It's not exclusive to any generation or gender. However, in a world where every dating aspect has a label and every cheating instance is measured, a recent survey reports that younger generations are more likely to say that a relationship has to be physical for it to count as cheating. This perception suggests that the concept of cheating can be measured or defined differently among individuals.

Gen Z often gets flak for their seemingly low emotional investment, their preference for quick fixes, and their exploration of unconventional relationship styles, like being in open relationships or juggling multiple partners as needed. However, these traits aren't exclusive to this generation and can be found across different age groups. SheThePeople delved into this subject by engaging in conversations with individuals from Gen Z and millennial couples. 

Are Gen-Z Couples Cheating All The Time?

Tarini Shah, the vibrant and influential Gen Z digital content creator, who is often hailed as the face of her generation holds the belief that, despite the abundance of choices leading to confusion and complexities, engaging in infidelity ultimately boils down to an individual's personal choice rather than a whole generation. 

She says, "I don’t think infidelity can ever be a trend no matter the generation. I do believe that gen-z has an easier access to find newer people and connect with them because of increased access to people whether it is through social media or dating apps. While having so many options can lead to confusion and complications, indulging in infidelity is a personal decision and is seen across all generations."

She adds, "I don’t think that is particularly a “Gen Z trend” and I don’t think it is a tag that should be associated with any generation."

However, the Wanderfully Lost Duo, Muskaan Mittal and Aashish Gupta, a dynamic young couple and digital content creator duo, believe that the priority for the generation in the spotlight is to be with the one who is right for them, and they won't choose to stay in a relationship they are not happy in.

According to the duo, it is not fair to generalise an entire generation for cheating. Agreeing with what Shah said, they say that cheating is a very complex behaviour, and the thing that has changed in this generation is that there is a lot of opportunity and everyone wants the best for them.

Everyone wants to make the right decision in the career they choose, and that is the same thing that they want to do for their relationships. They want to be with the one who is right for them. So people in Gen Z have a lot more options as compared to people in earlier generations, and that is one of the main reasons why they won't choose to stay in a relationship they are not happy in.

The Wanderfully Lost Duo shed light on the concept of micro-cheating, a common notion in today's relationships that resides between absolute loyalty and a full-blown affair. They highlight how these modern avenues make it easier to stay connected or flirt, posing a unique challenge in relationships for this generation, unlike in the past where such interactions were less common due to limited resources.

Micro Cheating basically refers to you liking your ex-ex profile pictures, you still being in contact with them through social media, you not deleting your online dating account after you are in a successful committed relationship, etc. So these small acts that we are able to continue after being in a relationship due to the availability of social media and the Internet are something that has really gone up in this generation.  

Jyotika Dilaik, a leading millennial digital content creator, highlights the modern dynamics of relationships. She observes that in today's interconnected world, with social media and dating apps, many Gen Z individuals tend to opt for finding new relationships instead of trying to resolve issues in existing ones.

In her words, "The fact that today the world is connected through social media and Gen Zs meet more often on dating apps, unlike the old times, means that most of them don’t want to try fixing things in relationships but rather prefer looking for another one."

However, she emphasises that there are still numerous honest Gen Zs who prioritise commitment and are willing to go the extra mile in their relationships.

Rajat Sharma, a digital content creator and Jyotika Dilaik's husband, shares a viewpoint akin to his wife's perspective. He believes that not all Gen Z couples are dishonest in relationships, having observed numerous genuinely committed pairs. He adds, "But in this era of fast Internet people like instant gratification and everything is just a swipe away for them. They don't like putting much effort into making things right for them or repairing things rather they look for another option more frequently. And that wasn't the case earlier."

Views expressed by the author are their own