One-Third Of Gen Z Decides Who They Date Based On Astrology

Welcome to VOL.UME: LOVE Right now, a new series of stories chronicling how we find and experience romantic connections in the digital age. For the complete experience, head to VOLUME.MTV.Com.




By Jake Register


For thousands of years, people have turned to astrology, the language of the stars, for guidance through life’s ups and downs. An astrologer can put into words things you’ve known about yourself, your family members, your objectives, and your relationships, nevertheless could never verbalize, proving the practice to be a handy tool for informing decisions about your job, school, love life, anything. And today — once when each cool-girl digital brand usually have its own column and apps like Co-Star, iHoroscope, and Time Nomad are at our fingertips — this power is just a click away.


Although with such a significant proliferation of obtainable data about astrology in recent years, how much do millennials and Gen Zers really know about their signs? And, if each person is keeping close tabs on their day-to-day horoscopes, is anyone using that knowledge to actually make decisions?

The answer to the former is: quite a lot! An August 2019 survey conducted by MTV Hints noticed that, among the 1,000 participants between ages 14 and 29, 87 percent know their zodiac sign, 75 percent trust that astrology works, and 65 percent routinely check their horoscope. In other words, most of them of young people believe that by knowing the date, time, and location of your birth, an astrologer can cast your birth chart — commonly known as your personalized horoscope or your “natal promise” — and show the location of every star, asteroid, and planet as it appeared in the sky. This paints a portrait of your personality, talents, motivations, and, particularly compelling for several, your approach to love. (If you’re curious about your birth chart, astro.Com is a fantastic resource that can read your entire personal birth chart for free with its amazing AstroClick Portrait tool.)


In my work as an astrologer and horoscope author, it isn't surprising that most of them of the inquiries I receive from clientele and readers are about their love lives. Rather than questions about one’s personalized horoscope, I am frequently asked how that data affects potential relationships. And it also makes sense why: 66 percent of MTV Insights’ survey participants mention astrology mentions why some folks are more romantically compatible than others. An astrologer can also compare your chart with your crush’s to be able to see the potential, good and bad, of your relationship. And while not each person has the time or statistics to dive deeply into their astro-compatibility, one-third of folks could be interested in dating someone simply because of their sign.


Likewise, 25 percent mention they would determine to not date somebody based on their sign, a statistic that reveals how our biases factor into dating prospects. “My friend and I are certainly wary about Gemini men,” says one 21-year-old woman surveyed, “based on bad experiences with ones being very hot and cold or two-faced, which is what they are known for.” Approximately two-thirds of participants express similar preferences toward or against specific signs. Aquarians, you’re in luck: Yours is the sign imagined most dateable, followed by Aries, Virgo, and Pisces. As a professional astrologer isn't likely to explicitly instruct someone to avoid these two signs, this stigma, rather, is place on Earth from memes circulated online. The world wide web shapes how we understand just about everything these days, and astrology is no exception.


For skeptics of the stars, here’s a fun experiment that anyone can do, single or not. Try and remember a past boo’s birthday, and look up their sign. Each person has a “type” to which they usually are the most attracted, plus it often lines up with what your birth chart has to mention about your love life, and also similarities in the birth charts of people you’ve dated in the past. “I’ve never avoided dating people because of our astrological compatibility,” says one 18-year-old woman surveyed. “But I have noticed that the last couple of people I’ve dated have the same sign.” This sentiment resonates significantly with Gen Z and millennials: 34 percent of survey participants mention they use astrology to prepare decisions in their love lives. I’m not saying that you should use astrology to prepare major decisions about relationships, however it’s interesting to be able to see how your past relationships were similar or different based on the sign of your then-partner.


If you’re single and there really are traits to which you find yourself attracted, astrology can support you hone in on your best potential matches. If you’re looking for someone outdoorsy and adventurous, maybe a Sagittarius is the one for you. Perhaps you like the beautiful, nerdy type — you have got to go for a Aquarius. If you’re a hopeless romantic looking to hook up with someone just as idealistic, I’d direct you to the nearest Pisces.


be mindful that compatibility goes deeper than just your Sun sign — that’s the one most people know, based on your birthday. As an example, you can would be a Gemini interested in a Capricorn, two signs that have nothing in normal, however if your Moon signs (which symbolizes emotions) are the same, or your Venus (which rules over love) placements rest in two signs that are well-suited, then that may override the incompatibility of your Sun signs and hint at the possibility of a strong, healthy relationship. That mentioned, no matter how in-depth a birth chart goes, astrology can never replace the experience of getting to know someone and feeling them out yourself any time determining compatibility. Even if your preference blog tells you to avoid Earth signs by any means needed because you’re a Aquarius, don’t let it snuff the sparks for your latest Virgo crush!


Whether you believe in astrology or not, it’s having a renaissance today for the same reason it’s survived since Babylon: It’s an engaging tool for learning more about yourself and the world around you, and yes it routinely works for those who take the time to explore it. More than half of the millennial and Gen Z generations are at least aware of their zodiac, and there’s 1/3 of us that are considering astrology as soon as it comes to making decisions about relationships. So if you’re stuck attempting to think of a way to break the ice with your crush or hoping to strike up a conversation with that dreamboat you met at the club, try asking simply, “What’s your sign?”

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