U.S., July 23 (V7N) — Despite the perception that today’s youth are increasingly open about sexuality, recent research shows that American Gen Zers are having significantly less sex than previous generations — but the reasons may surprise you.
 
The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a continued decline in adolescent sexual activity since 2013. Further supporting this trend, a 2022 study by the Kinsey Institute revealed that one in four Gen Z adults say they have never experienced partnered sex.
 
Journalist Carter Sherman, 31, explores this generational phenomenon in her new book The Second Coming, which examines Gen Z’s evolving relationship with sex, identity, and intimacy. Through more than 100 in-depth interviews with young people across the United States, Sherman uncovers that this so-called "dry spell" is not necessarily due to modesty or conservatism — but rather a complex web of cultural, political, and emotional factors.
 
Sherman's findings suggest that Gen Z is making conscious, often ideological decisions about when — or whether — to engage in sex. Some are choosing abstinence as a form of protest against toxic masculinity, hookup culture, or societal pressure. Others cite anxiety, a lack of trust, trauma, or discomfort with intimacy in an age of constant digital exposure and online dating.
 
Several interviewees pointed to broader societal issues — including gender inequality, sexual violence, and reproductive rights — as influencing their choices. Many expressed skepticism toward traditional relationships and questioned whether sex is a necessary component of fulfillment or identity.
 
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic amplified these trends, disrupting social development and reducing opportunities for in-person connections during formative years. Combined with rising mental health challenges among youth, the environment has become less conducive to intimacy.
 
Sherman’s book also highlights how digital culture has reshaped the sexual landscape. While Gen Z may be having less physical sex, they are not necessarily disengaged from sexuality — many engage in sexting, consume adult content, or explore identity in online spaces. However, these outlets do not always translate into real-world experiences.
 
Overall, The Second Coming paints a nuanced picture of a generation navigating intimacy in an era marked by ideological shifts, technological disruption, and heightened social awareness. Far from being prudish or disconnected, Sherman argues, Gen Z’s changing sexual behaviors reflect a broader reevaluation of what sex means in the modern world.
 
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