The "ick" – that sudden, inexplicable feeling of cringe that makes you question everything about a person you were once attracted to – has become a defining term of Gen Z dating culture. Maybe it’s the way they pronounce “moist,” or how they run for the bus with their backpack bouncing. Once you get the ick, there's no coming back. But this phenomenon isn’t just limited to relationships – Gen Z seems to be getting the ick from something else too: sex scenes.
Gone are the days when a steamy scene in a film or TV show was the highlight of the evening. These days, if a couple starts undressing on screen, Gen Z is more likely to roll their eyes, fast-forward, or check their phone until it’s over. But why? Have they suddenly become prudes? Not quite. It’s more that they’re questioning whether these scenes actually add anything to the story – or if they’re just thrown in for shock value. After all, who hasn’t sat through an awkwardly long, unnecessary sex scene and thought, 'Was that really needed?
Part of this shift comes down to Gen Z’s obsession with authenticity. Raised on the internet, they can smell forced, unrealistic content a mile away. A passionate kiss before the camera tastefully fades to black? Fine. A ten-minute sequence of tangled limbs and unnecessary heavy breathing? Instant ick. If a scene doesn’t feel natural or is obviously there just to be “edgy,” they’re not interested.
There’s also a growing awareness of how intimacy is portrayed in media. With conversations around consent, feminism, and LGBTQ+ representation becoming more mainstream, Gen Z is far more critical of outdated, problematic depictions of sex. They want relationships on screen to feel real, not just performative. And let’s be honest – a lot of sex scenes aren’t even that sexy. Weird angles, awkward noises, bad dialogue – sometimes it's less steamy romance and more second-hand embarrassment.
Ultimately, Gen Z isn’t against sex in media, but they do want it to be done right. If it’s important to the plot and handled with care, great. But if it’s just there for the sake of it? Instant fast-forward. Maybe the ick factor isn’t killing sex scenes – maybe it’s just forcing Hollywood to do them better.