Carmen Hyden, now 28, has stopped dating and focuses on herself. She travels solo, picks up hobbies, and works as a skin therapist.

Defined by young people who choose to stay single for personal growth, solomaxxing removes the stigma of being alone and encourages contentment instead of constant dating.

Inflation and rising costs have made dating less appealing. In the US, the average date cost increased 12.5% in 2026, while in the UK, adults spend over £147 per month on dates or apps.

Social scientist Bella DePaulo sees this as a positive shift, rejecting traditional marriage norms and embracing single life for its stability. Justin Garcia suggests more people might be single at any given time globally.

Despite options like nonmonogamy becoming mainstream, Gen Z is choosing to stay single, cherishing freedom over forced relationships.