Over a Third of British Adults Kiss Less Often, as 27% Say Kissing Is Declining
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 13
Over a Third of British Adults Kiss Less Often, as 27% Say Kissing Is Declining
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 13
Summary
More than a third of British adults told a YouGov survey they kiss romantically less often than five years ago, while nearly one in five said they have not been kissed in more than a year.
Gen Z appears especially affected: a third of 18- to 24-year-olds said they had avoided a kiss because they lacked confidence, citing anxiety about timing, skill and rejection.
Researchers and interviewees linked the drop to pandemic-era social disruption, heavier reliance on phones and apps, fewer nights out and shared spaces, and greater caution around consent.
The reported decline reaches beyond youth, with some older adults saying they have opted out of dating or now treat kissing as more consequential, requiring trust and emotional connection.
Experts say the trend reflects a wider erosion of face-to-face social skills and belonging, arguing that fewer low-stakes risks such as kissing may signal a broader breakdown in connection.