Gen Z says eye contact is ‘more intimate’ than touching, study

The eyes have it. 

Gen Z daters prefer their prospective partners look, don’t touch while flirting, per eye-popping new data. 

The hands-off approach to love is all the rage among 59% of 20-somethings who feel eye contact is more intimate than physical, according the September 2025 report from EZContacts, an online eyewear retailer. 

Skin-to-skin is no longer in.

Researchers surveyed 1,000 adults — including both singletons and sweethearts — to determine the impact that eyes, and eyewear, have on romantic connections.  

“Eye contact can be a sign of confidence or flirtation — but it’s also deeply personal,” wrote study authors. “It can spark a connection faster than conversation and create a sense of closeness in a first meeting.”

Investigators found that 62% of lady Zoomers appreciated eye-to-eye seduction over touching, slightly eclipsing the 55% of dudes from the demographic who, too, favored lusty stares over fondling. 

It’s a fondness for contactless interaction that’s rooted in Gen Z’s distain for inauthenticity. 

As folks under age 30 continue moving away from dating apps — most of which offering AI-powered features, such as generative chatbots and computerized “wingmen” — youngsters on the prowl are craving genuine, real-life experiences with potential paramours. 

“Meeting in person and looking into each other’s eyes can be a way people can build trust in connection,” said the analysts, “cutting through the online noise of insincerity.”

And, much to the delight of glasses-wearers everywhere, the experts discovered that the majority of daters have an affinity toward folks who sport specs. 

A staggering 58% of respondents said glasses make someone “more attractive,” the poll revealed, finding that 69% of men and 46% of women get hot for the hardware. 

The specialists learned that glasses featuring the “classic black” frame exude “seriousness and confidence,” making them the “go-to choice for a pragmatic, put-together image.” 

Bold, colorful frames, conversely, signify playfulness and extroversion. 

“That’s not just a sign of acceptance,” said examiners of the surprising discovery, “it’s a reversal of decades-old media tropes where TV, movies, and celebrities depicted glasses as a hindrance to beauty or confidence.”

It’s a revelation that echos recent data on long-touted, yet inaccurate beauty standards for dating. 

A study in the British Journal of psychology noted that, when on the hunt for “the one,” people prioritize a mix of shared traits, personal tastes — and even subtle things like the way someone moves, smells or talks — over picture-perfect facial features.  

Researchers for EZcontact agree.  

“Dating isn’t only about how we see others — it’s about how we feel seen,” said the authorities. “Eyewear may frame the face, but the eyes tell the story.”

“Whether it’s the intimacy of eye contact or the quiet signals of a frame style, what we reveal (or conceal) can shape connection long before anyone speaks a word.”