Mumbai: Valentine’s Day may traditionally be associated with dramatic confessions and red roses, but a new study by QuackQuack reveals a generational divide in how young Indians are approaching the day in 2026. According to the survey, Gen Z daters are embracing what the app terms “Romantic Fasting,” while Millennials are treating the occasion as a strategic checkpoint in their relationships.
The study was conducted among 10,853 Gen Z and Millennial users aged 20 to 35 across metros, suburbs and rural towns. All respondents had been active on dating apps for at least three months and represented diverse professional backgrounds.
The app’s Founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, “GenZs are going in total airplane mode this Valentine’s Day. Mostly, it is to avoid the pressure of labelling an ongoing connection, or going over-the-top one day and not being able to follow through the rest of the year. Though the young daters are serious about their matches, they are still in the exploratory phase where there’s no rush to define a relationship. Millennials, on the other hand, are picking up the pace. They are choosing to make an effort and seal the deal on matches they have been courting for a while. It’s not performative. From where we are standing, their effort looks really genuine.”
Gen Z’s Romantic Fasting Trend
The survey found that 33% of daters between 20 and 26 are deliberately avoiding new matches and refraining from making special plans around Valentine’s Day. For them, the day has become a non-event, with many choosing to slow down interactions to avoid premature commitments driven by emotional highs.
Five in seven Gen Z respondents admitted that Valentine’s Day triggers comparison anxiety, which they believe can negatively impact budding connections. Nikita (25) from Delhi, said, “I am really taking these days for self-care and slowing down on the interaction; just for these few days. I don’t like forced milestones. Just because it’s Vday doesn’t mean I have to turn my new match into my boyfriend. I’d rather it happens naturally.”
In what the app calls a “Quiet Romance Era,” six in ten Gen Z daters who are not completely opting out are following a no-gift, no-date policy, instead choosing low-key check-ins through memes and emojis. 26 year old Anshu commented, “If it’s real, it won’t need a strong hashtag to take over my heart.”
Millennials Turn Strategic
In contrast, Millennials appear to be leaning into the occasion with intention. The study shows that 39% of Millennial women and 21% of Millennial men from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities are using Valentine’s Day as a compatibility test—evaluating effort, emotional consistency and alignment.
Ashwini, a 29 year old software engineer from Mumbai, said, “My goal this Valentine’s Day is to check if our efforts match. Like, is he making plans or leaving it all on me? Is he communicating well? Is he too indifferent about the day? I’m not asking for a diamond ring here. I am checking the pattern.”
More than 4,364 Millennials preferred a thoughtfully planned coffee date over a last-minute reservation at a luxury restaurant, indicating a shift towards meaningful, effort-driven gestures over extravagance.
Unlike Gen Z’s romantic pause, 43% of Millennials aged between 28 and 35 reported actively making Valentine’s plans with matches they see long-term potential in. The data suggests that this cohort is increasingly comfortable discussing exclusivity, future expectations and emotional readiness.
The findings highlight a clear generational shift: while Gen Z prioritises emotional protection and flexibility, Millennials are approaching Valentine’s Day with clarity, intent and a focus on long-term compatibility.
