For a couple months now, Gen Z has taken to TikTok in droves to address their concern of being “chronically single.” Generally, when you have a “chronic” illness, you do your best to find a solution, which is what they’re doing. They go on dates semi-regularly, they’re open to being introduced to other people, and they’re willing to try blind dates, but none of these methods seem to be working. So, is there a remedy to this chronic ailment? Potentially. 

Opposite those who are “chronically single” is another group called “repeat offenders,” according to TikTok. It seems that these people have just given up on finding someone to date seriously while letting their standards slip in the process, so they have just become repeat offenders to fill the void.

The comments are divided. While some say they “live for the plot” and are too bored to stay single, others say they would much rather be chronically single than dating a different man each week:

Although the opportunity to get emotionally or physically involved with someone may seem appealing, even if the person isn’t right for you, that will only cause you pain. That type of companionship or method of filling a void will not be worth the hurt it brings in the end. 

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the chronically single trend I have seen is that people are not lowering their standards or entering into desperation mode. This girl puts it squarely into perspective:

She acknowledges the unwarranted bad advice singles receive, and then mentions that when a dating situation doesn’t work out, other people are quick to shower you with pity, say how sorry they are, and ask how long you’ve been single, which she has some strong opinions about. Her main point is that she thinks the longer you’re single, the more adamant you become on not settling. Lots of comments concurred:

My husband was 28 when we met, and by the internet’s definition, he was chronically single. He never felt like any of the women he went on a date with were right for him — so he just kept looking. When I met him, I respected the fact he’d never been in a relationship because it showed me he was dating with intention. He valued himself enough not to waste his time going after random girls at bars just to have the satisfaction of being with someone.

WATCH: The Comments Section with Brett Cooper on DailyWire+

Waiting and checking boxes was a common sentiment among both the men and the women in this comment section. If anything, the singles’ standards seem to be getting stronger as they mature and gain more confidence in what they want in a significant other, which I think is positive — so long as your standards don’t include a list of unnecessary “icks.” If your standards include mutual respect, shared values, and common ground in a relationship, keep them high.

A girl posted this TikTok talking about just this:

One comment honed in on a truly sincere and valid statement:

She’s a hopeless romantic living in a hook-up culture world. This is incredibly hard for people who have traditional values because those values have gone out of practice in the dating world. Yet this girl has so much clarity and maturity. She isn’t going out and seeking attention from every man she meets, nor has she made dating or hooking up her identity — quite the contrary. At the same time, finding someone to be in a relationship with is on her mind because it’s important to her and she’s not going about it frivolously.

RELATED: ‘Chronic Singleness.’ Let’s Talk About It. Part I

My takeaway after watching all these TikTokers document their chronically single experiences was: I don’t know exactly what to say because everyone has different experiences as to how they found their significant others. By no means do I want to spew cliches. And more than just giving relentless advice, my hope is to break down the problems people are facing in the dating landscape, break down the dating landscape in and of itself so that we can find solutions.

Singles don’t need more advice. They need phone numbers. So be the help, connect your friends, and become part of the solution. This is a huge issue in our culture, and there has to be a way to fix this. So let’s stop with the unhelpful advice and start making connections.

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