Why Seeing Couples Kiss in Public Makes Gen Z Feel Lonely, According to a New Survey

If watching a couple kiss in public sends a little pang through your chest, you’re not alone, and there’s data to prove it. A Hily survey found that nearly one in three Gen Zers dislike seeing public displays of affection, while fewer than one in five millennials feel the same. The bigger twist: more than half of Gen Z respondents said seeing a couple kiss makes them feel lonely, not grossed out.

It tracks with what we already know about Gen Z, the generation most likely to report loneliness and the fewest romantic relationships. Clinical psychologist Sabrina Romanoff says PDA shines a light on what we don’t have in a very explicit, tangible way, and that sting often gets projected onto the couples themselves. That’s how a July TikTok shaming a couple kissing on a Central Park bench racked up over four million views.

Romanoff’s advice is simple but not easy: when that big reaction hits, pause and ask what it’s really about instead of reaching for your phone. Acting on the impulse costs us our empathy, which is a steep price for a few likes. So the next time a public kiss ruins your mood, what is that feeling actually telling you?