Why Gen Z Is Having Less Sex: The Truth Behind the Modern Sex Recession

By Adultsvilla Editorial Team

In a hyperconnected, hypersexualized world, it seems almost ironic that the youngest adult generation—Gen Z—is in the midst of a sexual recession. Despite growing up with instant access to dating apps, adult content, and progressive sexual messaging, more and more young people are delaying or avoiding sex altogether.

But why?

In her new book The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generation’s Fight Over Its Future, journalist Carter Sherman dives deep into this paradox. After interviewing over 100 young adults, Sherman discovered that Gen Z is not prudish or uninterested in sex. In fact, many of them are “very horny,” curious, and craving connection—but modern life has made intimacy more complicated than ever.

🧠 The New Age of Sexual Anxiety

Sherman identifies a cultural shift: Gen Z is highly aware of the emotional, political, and social dimensions of sex. But that awareness often leads to hesitation instead of action.

 “They’re not avoiding sex because they don’t want it,” says Sherman. “They’re avoiding it because of fear—of judgment, of their bodies, of hurting others, of being hurt, of not measuring up.”

Here’s a look at the key factors contributing to this generational shift.

📱 Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword

Social platforms have changed everything—from how we flirt to how we see ourselves.

Young people spend hours scrolling, comparing their lives and bodies to idealized images.

This leads to a rise in body insecurity, performance anxiety, and low self-worth.

Many feel they don’t “measure up,” and that affects their willingness to be sexually vulnerable.

This phenomenon, dubbed "compare and despair," has made Gen Z more self-conscious than ever, even in private moments.

🛑 Sex Education Is Failing Them

In many schools, abstinence-only education is still the norm, offering no real guidance on consent, pleasure, porn, sexting, or LGBTQ+ relationships. Sherman notes that billions of dollars in U.S. funding have gone to anti-sex, fear-based programs.

With little proper education, porn becomes the de facto teacher—leading to:

Misinformation about what sex should look like

Unrealistic expectations

The normalization of rough acts like choking, often without consent or context

🦠 The Pandemic Made It Worse

Isolation during COVID-19 lockdowns accelerated an already growing trend: young people retreated into digital spaces for emotional and sexual connection.

Sexting and nudes became more common, but also more confusing and guilt-inducing.

Many didn’t learn how to flirt, build trust, or communicate desires offline.

Sherman shares one story of a young woman pressured into sending nudes during the pandemic. Though not unusual, the emotional aftermath reflects the blurred lines and lack of guidance surrounding digital intimacy.

💔 Dating Apps: Love in the Swipe Age

Dating apps promised quick, easy romance—but for Gen Z, they often deliver the opposite.

Many feel they are just being judged on looks.

Constant rejection—or worse, ghosting—can harm self-esteem.

Instead of fostering connection, apps reinforce the same insecurity loops as social media.

Sherman argues that dating apps have become less about love and more about ranking sexual market value—leaving users more disillusioned than fulfilled.

🔥 Porn & Pleasure: Learning in the Dark

Porn is everywhere, but sex literacy is not.

Sherman’s interviews revealed:

Porn taught many Gen Zers about sex in the absence of real-life education.

Some internalized harmful dynamics (e.g., rough sex, silent consent, unrealistic body expectations).

Yet, when done responsibly, porn also opened doors to LGBTQ+ acceptance and exploration.

The problem isn't porn itself—it's that no one is talking openly about it.

🧕 Post-Roe, Post-#MeToo: Sex Is Political

Today's youth are growing up in a time of extreme contradiction. They’ve seen:

#MeToo challenge silence around harassment

Roe v. Wade overturned, taking away abortion rights

Debates about gender, consent, and sexual freedom dominate every platform

One young woman told Sherman she’s afraid to have sex because she doesn’t trust that men aren’t secretly misogynists. Another shared that losing abortion access made her feel like sex could be punished with parenthood.

This political pressure adds yet another layer of fear and complexity.

❤️ What Do Gen Z Really Want?

Sherman insists it’s not about pushing anyone to have more sex—it’s about ensuring young people feel free, safe, and supported in exploring intimacy, if and when they want to.

Many are seeking:

Emotional safety

Real consent

Shared pleasure

Honest connection

And while they might be slower to act, Sherman found Gen Z to be thoughtful, progressive, and deeply reflective—a generation trying to redefine sex not just as pleasure, but as mutual care.

🌍 What This Means for All of Us

For those of us working in the space of sexual wellness, education, and adult content, this is a moment of reckoning.

At Adultsvilla.com, we believe:

Sex should be consensual, respectful, and joyful.

Porn should be discussed, not hidden.

Education, vulnerability, and openness lead to better intimacy—for all ages.

Gen Z is not anti-sex. They’re just overwhelmed, under-supported, and trying to build a better sexual future. And maybe, just maybe, that’s a sign of hope.