Have you heard of “Sledging?” Well, don’t be disappointed if you haven’t. Let’s just say that Gen Z has done it again when it comes to coming up with new ways to prove that the entire generation is selfish and narcissistic. Now they hold onto people they plan on dumping just so as not to be alone during the holidays.
The term “sledging” in the context of dating refers to the act of deliberately dragging out a relationship or date beyond its natural end, often through the holiday season. This can involve leading someone on, avoiding clear communication about intentions, or maintaining a relationship solely for personal gain, such as companionship or physical intimacy.
This modern usage of the term is a relatively recent phenomenon, gaining popularity in discussions about dating trends and behaviors, particularly among younger generations.
According to a recent survey conducted by the dating App Happn, involving 653 individuals aged 18-25, approximately 10% intend to continue relationships that lack genuine interest throughout the winter months. Furthermore, 15% confessed to prolonging relationships beyond Christmas and New Year before terminating them. The primary motivations for this behavior, often termed “sledging,” include seeking casual sexual encounters, desiring companionship during the colder months, and mitigating feelings of loneliness.
Gen Z-ers – or Zoomers as some people calls them – no longer meet new people in person. They find them on Instagram and other social media services. So, what do they do instead of flirting? They “like” someone’s social media post and expect to be contacted through direct messaging.
Generation Z, often abbreviated as Gen Z, refers to the demographic cohort following Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. There’s no universally agreed-upon birth year range, but most sources place it somewhere between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s. This means the oldest members of Gen Z are entering their late 20s, while the youngest are still teenagers.
Unlike Millennials who grew up with the rise of the internet, Gen Z has never known a world without it. They are comfortable with technology and adept at using social media, online communication platforms, and mobile devices.
Gen Z has come of age during a period marked by significant global events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Great Recession, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These events have fostered a sense of social awareness, global citizenship, and a questioning of traditional authority figures.
They have been accused of being selfish and narcissistic because of how Gen Z has been raised. Sledging is yet more proof that this is true.
