Picture this – you’re watching your favourite rom-com. The main character sits in a convertible, windows down, staring at the world outside. The scene screams heartbreak but ever wondered, maybe it’s not the sadness at all? Maybe the weather outside is just that amazing, or, perhaps, the ventilation in the car is just ridiculously low? 

That’s the case! We’ve romanticized the feeling of a breakup so much that sometimes, instead of actually going through the pain, the heartbreak, and everything that comes with it, we just change partners like clothes before a party, one after the other, in pure chaos. 

“People are usually replaced before they leave. But in our generation, I’ve experienced a lack of closure in any relationship. There’s just an understanding that if somebody isn’t talking to you, they probably don’t want to anymore,” says Satvik Bahuguna, a 23-year-old engineer from Bangalore, currently working at EY. He has seen friendships fade without a single argument and relationships end without so much as a goodbye. 

Satvik recalls moments where messages were left on delivered out of the blue, and conversations once filled with warmth turned cold overnight.

It is funny how Gen Z has its own set of rules to navigate through life. No one wants to sit down and have an open and honest conversation. As if they are getting taxed for sharing how they truly feel. Or maybe, they are! Except, the tax is all the emotional baggage they’re carrying around. 

“Everyone talks about ‘real love,’ but to me, it’s just about not wasting time. If things aren’t working out the way you want them to, why stress it? It’s not that deep. I’m not about to chase someone who’s not interested.” shares Riya Patel, a 19-year-old design student from Amity University, Noida. 

Variety is the spice of life and often times than not, apps like Tinder, speed dating events, and Instagram DMs have made everyone instantly accessible. The idea of exclusivity is fading, with many juggling multiple partners at once, keeping things casual and lowkey. Love isn’t lost, but patience for it certainly is. The romantics have waved their white flag, and the romance is dead! 

Recent data from Statista, Published by Tanushree Basuroy, on Jan 27, 2025, highlights this cultural shift. According to their report on online dating, India alone has 27.2 million online dating users, contributing to a market revenue of $69.9 million. 

Globally, the online dating industry is projected to reach 462.5 million users by 2029, generating approximately $3.12 billion in revenue. 

These staggering numbers reveal how dating has evolved into a fast-paced game where people are more likely to explore multiple options simultaneously rather than invest in one lasting bond. 

“It’s like we’ve turned love into a shopping spree. Pick, choose, and move on. But nobody’s really looking for anything worth keeping.” says Arjun Malik, 20 years old, a Graphic Design Student from Amity University, Noida.

We’ve romanticized the chase but can’t handle the actual connection. So we ghost, move on, and replace. In the end, we’re left with nothing real. Just empty, shallow memories we refuse to deal with.