Psychology Today highlights Gen Z’s turn to AI intimacy over humans
A new article from Psychology Today, written by Dr. Marianne Brandon, a clinical psychologist, puts a spotlight on how Gen Z is swapping human connection for “romantasy,” anime porn, and AI chatbots.
The shift isn’t just about preference—it’s about safety and trust. Gen Z faces a world where social media blows every mistake out of proportion and deepfakes threaten privacy. The digital realm feels less risky and more in control. AI companions come off as kinder and more rational than real-life dating apps or toxic relationships. 
Brandon calls this a “throuple” of digital intimacy and says it’s reshaping how young people find comfort and connection in a tough dating landscape.
“Gen Z’s digital intimacy is shaped by romantasy, anime porn, and AI companions”—quite the throuple.
“The erosion of trust in human relationships may be at the heart of this shift,” Brandon wrote. “With social media amplifying every misstep and deepfakes making it easy to exploit vulnerabilities, Gen Z faces a landscape where betrayal and public shaming are ever-present risks. In this context, digital intimacy may feel less risky and more controllable for some young people. This is a generation drawn to tech-based connection, not because they don’t value human relationships, but because people have become increasingly difficult to trust.”
The article notes Millennials feel this too. One writer’s friend prefers “romantasy” books over dating, pointing to better fictional partners than real people. Many turn to AI chatbots because genuine human connection and therapy remain costly or unavailable.
Brandon insists the solution is balance. Keep your anime porn and AI chats. But don’t lose sight of human messiness, which is key for emotional growth.
“The pull of digital intimacy for Gen Z is real and valid,” Brandon writes. “Romantasy, anime porn, and chatbots offer creative, sometimes healing spaces for self-exploration. But we can’t idealize these trends or ignore their limits. Human relationships—messy, unpredictable, and sometimes risky—still, at least for now, remain essential for emotional growth, resilience, and true intimacy.”
Digital intimacy isn’t replacing humans. It’s a response to mistrust and hurt. The takeaway: people still need people, especially in a cold digital dating world.
