Uncanny Valley | WIRED What’s Behind Gen Z’s Sex Recession?
19 snips
Jul 18, 2025 
Carter Sherman, a writer and journalist known for her book, *The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generation's Fight Over Its Future*, joins to dissect why Gen Z is experiencing a sex recession. The discussion reveals how social media shapes self-perception and intimacy, while political events create anxieties surrounding relationships. Sherman highlights the consequences of inadequate sex education and the influence of divisive communities like incels. The conversation also explores Gen Z's evolving views on sexual rights and healthy relationships.
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Understanding the Sex Recession
- The sex recession is a decline in partnered sex among young people, starting before the pandemic.
- It reflects broader issues of connection, vulnerability, and empathy among Gen Z.
Social Media Fuels Comparison Anxiety
- Social media triggers constant self-comparison, harming sexual confidence and intimacy.
- People gauge their sexual marketability via likes, matches, and follower counts.
Youth Body Image Anecdotes
- One young woman posted bikini photos mainly for men's appreciation despite peer evaluations.
- A young man admitted using filters and comparing women, highlighting pervasive body scrutiny.
