Stat: Young adults are redefining romantic relationships on their terms

Global – As romantic norms fragment, 20% of people are now unknowingly practising ‘relationship anarchy’, according to the latest State of Dating report by Feeld. 

The philosophy, first coined in 2006 by Swedish activist Andie Nordgren, is gaining traction amid what many are calling a crisis in modern dating. 

Findings from the report show that Millennials and Gen Z are 1.5 times more likely to know about relationship anarchy than Boomers, and increasingly embrace the non-hierarchical, consent-based relationship model which rejects couple-centric ideals and capitalism’s influence on love. By contrast, only 15% of Boomers surveyed have tried relationship anarchy.

This shift reflects wider disillusionment with traditional dating, with nearly half (47%) of US adults saying it is harder now than a decade ago (source: Pew Research Center). 

With polyamory and open relationships increasingly visible, Gen Z and Millennials are leading the change – 73% say they’re open to non-traditional partnerships (source: R29 Intelligence). Conventional models of love, family and partnership are being fundamentally redefined. As explored in our Women Without Kids report, brands must evolve with this shift – designing for lifestyles, not life stages.