That Gen Z thinks, feels, reacts, and perceives the world and life differently is no secret. But, just how differently? The CEO of Soul, Zhang Lu got her team of researchers to find the answer to this. The result was the 2025 Gen Z Social Trend Report.
Created through a collaboration between Soul App and Fudan University’s Center for Communication and State Governance Research, the report was based on data collected from over 11,000 surveys and Soul’s rich content platform. Here are some notable observations from it that reveal the shifting dynamics of Chinese Gen Z’s emotional world, relationships, and social patterns.
Soul Zhang Lu’s researchers found that romance for Gen Z is a mix of paradoxical complexities. The researchers named this the “Paperclip Paradox”, and rightly so. The name represents the loop-like journey that a person takes in his/her quest to love, one that often leads right back to where it all started.
According to the research conducted by Soul Zhang Lu’s team, “romantic love” remained a hot and happening topic on the platform with over 3.5 million people discussing it. But, hashtags such as #QualitySingleBeatsLowRel also raked in nearly half as many views. This brought out the fact that while many youngsters out there are pining for love, there are also those who do not have a problem being single; in fact, they celebrate it.
When answering questions about barriers to relationships, most stated that small social circles, misaligned values, and communication problems were the culprits. As far as reasons for remaining single were concerned, women attributed their single status to a desire for personal growth while men pinned the blame on past relationship struggles and financial constraints.
When it came to digital connections, the users surveyed by Soul Zhang Lu’s team showed a distinct preference for two paradoxical concepts – that of silent live chat and of “Gu Liao (guaranteed chat partners)”.
The former is an innovative concept that uses ambient sounds like those of people breathing, typing, commuting, etc. to create connections. These ambient sounds, which are a normal part of everyday life, offer the feeling of someone being there without the need for actual verbal connections.
But, despite the overwhelming appreciation for this concept of silent connections, some users were just as keen on finding a dependable chat companion, who offers a shoulder to cry on or an attentive ear when people want to share their emotions.
Apart from these, the data analyzed by the researchers of Soul Zhang Lu also showed a growing penchant for a concept termed “electronic ibuprofen”. Simply put, this is how youngsters soothe their aching hearts without the use of actual medication. Plush toys and anime-inspired merchandise are on top of the list of these soothers.
Gen Z is increasingly prioritizing joyful consumption over traditional material goods. This trend aligns with the “kidult” culture, where adults indulge in childlike joys. Also, Zoomers do not mind spending on travel and hobbies since these purchases serve as emotional pick-me-ups in a world that is increasingly getting too fast-paced for comfort.
Another new age trend uncovered by Soul Zhang Lu’s survey was the growing acceptance and even the desire for AI companionship. Yes, youngsters do not mind talking to machines, in fact, they are quite keen on such interactions. This explains the overwhelming response received by Soul’s new AI companion feature.
Approximately 40% of the survey respondents expressed willingness to confide in AI because they viewed virtual beings as consistent and empathetic listeners. Many admitted that they see these digital companions as a solution to modern isolation.
While on the topic of emotions, the research team of Soul Zhang Lu also found that Gen Z wants to embrace self-awareness, learn to set boundaries, and let go of hypersensitivity. In keeping with this trend of self-awareness and emotional growth, discussions around Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and Alfred Adler’s “Separation of Tasks” attracted a significant number of the platform’s young users.
For instance, the hashtag #NPD garnered over 24 million views which points to the fact that youngsters are making a collective effort to understand and address complex emotional dynamics instead of trying to sweep them under the rug.
Another notable observation made by Soul Zhang Lu’s researchers was that Zoomers are enthusiastic about moving from people to pixels, defying the stereotype that boomers and millennials associate with them. Of course, this is a surprising development since Gen Z has grown up in a world of multiple screens and is at home handling them all at once.
Despite this, they are taking steps towards rediscovering the charm of offline interactions. In fact, for many Gen Zers digital interactions/scenarios serve as the first step towards offline connections. This explains why the launch of the video game “Black Myth: Wukong” inspired a staggering 5884% surge in travel to Shanxi, demonstrating how digital passions can lead to real-world adventures.
A deeper look at the observations made by Soul Zhang Lu’s team reveals that there is a common theme – Gen Z’s attempt to re-enchant their lives, and these youngsters sure are taking novel routes to fall in love with life again. At the core of it all is the desire for both autonomy and a sense of fulfillment, which explains why most surveyed youngsters described the ideal life state as “having one’s own hobbies and being free.”