By Jen Thomas

What’s the brutal dating trend we’re seeing in Gen Z? My feature interview in Tyla reveals this demeaning behavior and its disastrous effect on ones self-esteem.

Journalist Jen Thomas writes, “Dating in 2026 is brutal enough already, but Gen Z has shared a shocking warning about their love lives they say is even worse then ghosting.

It can be hard to meet someone new, and just when you think you’ve found the one, the rug can be pulled out from under you.”

While it’s true that dating at any age can be daunting, Gen Z is having a tough time. They’re experiencing the same bad behavior as seen in the Millennial generation. Red flags, love bombing, narcissism, and dismissivness of the other’s feelings have led many to wonder if Love is even possible.

The last three decades have required a litany of new terms to describe each specific type of bad dating behavior; such as ‘shrekking,’ ‘pocketing,’ ‘future faking,’ and ‘low vibrational partner.’

Now, Gen Z is experiencing the emotional fallout of “stashing.”

Jen Thomas continues, “Relationship expert Susan Winter said that ‘stashing’ someone is similar to being a ‘sidechick’, however, it doesn’t always mean they have another love on the side.

It could just be that they’re keeping their options open, or not wanting to share the relationship for whatever reason.

The expert explained it involves you being ‘kept at a distance’ from your partner’s family.

“You’ve been seeing your date for a while, but never met his or her friends. You rarely go out together,” she said.”

The way this looks in real life?  Your partner hides you from their friends, social media feed, and for all intense and purposes appears to be “single.” This is degrading, humiliating, and soul crushing.

Thomas writes, “Winter recommended: “I would talk about it. I would say, ’Here’s what I’m experiencing… we see each other three, four times a week… I don’t know any of your friends or family. This is making it very unexciting for me to continue.”

This is a trend which shows a ‘lack of respect’ for the other party, and Winter urged we should ‘feel that our partner is proud of us’.”

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