They have dating apps, instant messaging, and more ways than ever to stay connected, but when the time comes to meet face-to-face, the story changes. Romance and intimacy are declining among young people, a phenomenon that some specialists have already dubbed the “recession of kisses”.
According to experts cited by BioBioChile, younger generations spend less time socializing in person and more time in front of screens. That also means fewer opportunities to learn something that once came more naturally: approaching someone, interpreting signals, flirting, or daring to give the first kiss.
The phenomenon is not limited to kisses. Various studies show that young people also go on fewer dates and have fewer intimate relationships than previous generations did at the same age. Possible reasons include the use of cell phones and social media, as well as anxiety, fear of rejection, and changes in the way people relate to one another.
Paradoxically, it has never been easier to send a message to someone you like. The problem seems to begin when it is time to put the phone away, look each other in the eye, and figure out what to do next.