Just So Soul, the research division of the extremely popular social networking platform Soul App, recently released its 2026 Social Trends Report. Over the years, the CEO of Soul, Zhang Lu, has placed great emphasis on observing, understanding, and documenting the perceptions, preferences, priorities, and proclivities of Gen Z.
And this is understandable considering the fact that Gen Z forms a prolific section of Soul’s user base. That said, the first report of the year isn’t about purchasing behaviors, professional priorities, or even digital inclinations. Instead, Soul Zhang Lu’s researchers partnered with experts from Fudan University to understand a rising phenomenon among the country’s Zoomers, which is known as “Life Partner”.
That term can actually be a bit confusing, particularly if it is tied to its traditional interpretation of romantic and/or conjugal associations. In this report, Soul Zhang Lu’s team has used the term “life partners” to refer to online and offline friends, collaborators, like-minded associations, and even AI-powered digital beings.
Thus far, the general discourse about Gen Z has focused on their lack of job security, optimism, patience, or resilience, which has apparently led them to disengage from society. But the report from Soul Zhang Lu’s team paints a completely different picture. According to this report, youngsters are not leaving the game, they are just changing its rules.
Yes, the redesigning of the relationship architecture is undoubtedly in response to an era defined by uncertainty. It can even be deemed a survival mechanism of sorts to make the best of what is available right now and right here.
For the longest time, literature about romantic relationships in one way or another spoke about “happily ever after”. The rise of social media ushered in the age of quantity over quality. Social success revolved around numbers; whether it was likes, followers, or post views. But the world looks different from where Gen Z stands today.
Growing uncertainty in most aspects of life means that “ever after” has turned into an unattainable and unrealistic luxury, while digital fatigue means that numbers simply don’t matter anymore. So, instead of chasing the definitions framed by previous generations, Zoomers are opting for what feels right to them and is best suited for the ecosystem they live in.
Metaphorically speaking, Gen Z isn’t putting all its eggs in one basket, nor is it looking for a lot of baskets or a lot of eggs. Instead, they have managed to bring the principles of economics into relationships. Youngsters are going for one good egg per basket to be taken care of in the best possible way till it’s needed or relevant.
Soul Zhang Lu’s report suggests that now social connections aren’t about creating expansive networks. Instead, young people are seeking relational anchors; these could be people, systems, or tools that provide emotional grounding, cognitive clarity, and practical support. In other words, this is the emergence of a new relational economy built around the concept of “life partners.”
Because Generation Z has grown up inside digital ecosystems, these youngsters are acutely aware of the emotional cost of constant social expansion. So it is only natural for young people to reassess what connections are actually for. The emphasis has shifted from how many people one knows to how reliably a small number of relationships can support daily life. This recalibration reflects not withdrawal, but strategic restraint.
More than any other generation before them, Zoomers are acutely aware of the various risks surrounding them. Hence, reliability, emotional literacy, and boundary clarity now outweigh charisma or social prestige.
In fact, Soul Zhang Lu’s researchers found that relationships are increasingly treated as a form of risk management. Young people prioritize connections that reduce uncertainty rather than amplify it. In this context, the idea of a “life partner” is less romantic than functional. A life partner is someone or something that helps stabilize decision-making, emotional regulation, or long-term planning.
This can include a romantic partner, a close friend, a family member, or even an AI system. A deeper scrutiny of this shift also reveals that instead of expecting a single relationship to meet all emotional and practical needs, Generation Z is distributing those needs across multiple connections.
In this sense, one friend may serve as a thinking partner; another may offer emotional comfort, and a sibling might provide logistical support. The thing to note here is that each relationship has a defined scope and purpose. This approach reduces emotional overload and minimizes conflict caused by mismatched expectations.
The best part is that everybody who matters is included in this ecosystem: friends, family, parents, and romantic partners. Surprisingly, even AI has found a place in this new relationship matrix. Make no mistake, it isn’t a replacement for human connections, but it sure is a buffer and a gap filler that streamlines things further.
To cut a long story short, Soul Zhang Lu’s researchers have revealed that youngsters are treating relationship management just as they would portfolio diversification. Far from weakening intimacy, this allows each relationship to operate within sustainable limits and provides the stability that Gen Z craves.