Tag: open relationships

Rise in Gen Z Having Affairs

* An affairs site has recorded a 31% increase in Gen Z sign-ups (ages 18–25) in the past year.
* A poll of 1,000 Gen-Z members found 71% reject traditional monogamy in favour of ethical non-monogamy or polyamory.
* More than half (53%) say they’re already in open relationships or “situationships.”
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

While the word ‘affair’ might conjure images of a secret rendezvous between married couples, a surprising new trend is emerging: Gen Z are flocking to extramarital dating sites – not out of dissatisfaction in their relationships, but to explore an alternative to traditional monogamy.

New figures from IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, show a 31% rise in sign-ups from 18-25-year-olds over the past 12 months – suggesting that younger generations are increasingly rejecting traditional models of monogamy in favour of more fluid and openly negotiated forms of intimacy.

A poll of 1,000 Gen Z members who joined in the past year revealed that 71% said they do not believe monogamy should be the default expectation in relationships. 

Over half (53%) reported being in open relationships, polycules, or casual “situationships,” while 41% said they signed up purely out of curiosity to explore what ethical non-monogamy could look like for them.

Amelia, 24, from Manchester, said she joined because polyamory was already part of her social circle, “Everyone I know is experimenting with ENM in some form. It’s not taboo anymore – if anything, it’s more honest. I’m not unhappy with my boyfriend, I just wanted to see what else was out there with clear boundaries. For me, the site felt safer than swiping randomly on mainstream apps where people aren’t upfront about what they want.”

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at  IllicitEncounters.com, said Gen Z’s mindset marks a cultural shift, “Polyamory and ethical non-monogamy used to be considered niche, but for Gen Z, they’re simply part of the dating landscape. This generation values honesty, autonomy and consent above all else, and they’re rejecting the idea that one partner for life is the only valid route.

What’s fascinating is that many Gen Z members aren’t turning to sites like Illicit Encounters because their relationships are failing. They’re joining because they want to explore in a transparent way, often with the knowledge – or even encouragement – of their partners. It’s less about betrayal, more about expansion.”

“I Told My Husband I Wanted to Date Other People – Now Our Relationship is Stronger Than Ever”

* A married woman has revealed how an unconventional decision to embrace non-monogamy through extramarital dating site, IllicitEncounters.com, sparked a transformation in her relationship with her husband.
* Sophie*, 28, describes how emotional and physical unfulfillment in her relationship led to an open conversation with her partner about ‘exploring options’.
* By setting clear boundaries and prioritising honesty, she reveals how an open relationship surprisingly led to a stronger bond with her husband, declaring their relationship ‘has never been better’.

In a world where traditional relationships often clash with modern desires, one woman found an unexpected way to keep her marriage strong: by embracing an open relationship through an affairs site.

Sophie* opened up about her unconventional relationship journey that began long before she and her husband tied the knot in 2023. Years before saying ‘I do’, she posed a question to her then-boyfriend that would shape the course of their relationship: Would you be upset if I cheated on you?

“I was curious and insecure,” Sophie admits, reflecting on how the idea of infidelity first entered their relationship. “I asked him, partly from curiosity and a good dose of insecurity, whether he would be upset if I cheated on him with someone else.” 

His surprising response? As long as she didn’t lie about it, he would be fine. At the time, the answer stung, as if it were a dismissal of the love and exclusivity she craved. “It felt like he was more or less telling me to go and be with someone else, just tell him first,” Sophie recalls. “I thought it was perhaps so he could do the same.” Little did she know, this offhand remark would pave the way for a transformative chapter in her life.

The couple got married in 2023. For Sophie, the wedding was supposed to be the ultimate affirmation of their love. “I really hoped that this would bring us closer and ease my insecurities that he was less invested in the relationship,” she explains. But the reality was different. “He left the entire wedding planning to me, we had no honeymoon, and our relationship just resumed to its usual routine pretty quickly.” 

“I was emotionally and physically unhappy,” Sophie admits. “But I didn’t want to split up. I still loved him, and deep down, I knew he loved me too.” Yet, doubts about her husband’s emotional investment lingered. To address these feelings and rediscover herself, Sophie decided to explore the controversial world of non-monogamy, and discovered extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com. 

After much internal debate, she decided to bring it up with her husband. “I think about a week after debating, I bit the bullet and told him I wanted to explore my options but I wanted rules,” Sophie shares. Her conditions were simple but clear: “We stay together, we communicate, and we let each other know where the other person is if we’re going out on a date for safety reasons. And, we don’t bring the other person into our marital bed.” To her relief, her husband agreed.

Sophie’s experience on the website was eye-opening. “Now, I’m regularly seeing a man I met on IllicitEncounters.com.” But perhaps the biggest surprise was how this arrangement improved her relationship with her partner. “What surprised me most is that it really made me feel closer to my husband, and he has admitted the same,” she reveals. “Our communication and level of trust has improved dramatically, and ironically our marriage has never been better.”

*Name has been changed