When it comes to dating, Gen Z wants something authentic. According to a recent Hinge survey of more than 30,000 Hinge daters, the majority (84%) said they want to find new ways to form deeper connections with the people they’re dating.
Jackie Combs, a marriage and family law attorney at Blank Rome, says young people looking to take their relationships to the next level may view marriage differently than previous generations.
That’s because Gen Z grew up in a digital world and has “access to even more information than our generation or the generations before us,” she says.
How did that affect their attitude towards marriage, she says.
Social media despises ‘much of the shame that comes with divorce’
First, Gen Z grew up in a world where divorce was far more commonplace.
Combs says social media has made it easier for people to be open about what’s going on in their lives. “How many times have we seen a celebrity or Bravo star publicly announce what’s going on in their private life, including their divorce?”
“I think it has alleviated a lot of the shame that comes with divorce,” she says.
Similarly, as digital natives, Gen Zers have far more access to financial information and are shaping their love lives accordingly, Combs says. According to a 2025 Bank of America study, 78% of Gen Z say financial responsibility is an important quality when choosing a romantic partner.
Combs says young people are approaching marriage with a more realistic and realistic idea of what will happen, both in terms of divorce and financial intentions. As a result, she says she’s seeing an increase in premarital sex among her younger clients.
“There are a lot of people on social media who claim to be experts.”
One thing Combs advises Gen Zers to keep in mind as they navigate the vast amount of information the internet offers. It’s all about finding reliable sources of information.
“There are a lot of people on social media who claim to be experts, but they may not have the credentials to back up their claims,” she says. Even if their advice seems appropriate, it may not apply to your particular situation.
“It’s really important for individuals to get advice from trusted professionals,” such as certified financial planners, psychologists, and divorce attorneys, she says. Following the wrong advice “can have serious consequences for your life.”
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