64% of Gen Z have tried tarot, psychics or love spells to find romance, survey finds
Representative image: MiraCosic / Pixabay
A DatingNews survey published 6 October 2026 finds 64% of US Gen Z adults have tried manifestation, tarot, psychics or spells for love, versus 12% of boomers.
What Happened
Nearly two in three members of Generation Z in the United States say they have tried something spiritual or mystical to help their love lives, according to a survey published on Tuesday 6 October 2026 by DatingNews, a dating-industry news site that commissioned the poll. The survey of 1,013 American adults aged 18 to 60 found that 64% of Gen Z respondents and 51% of millennials had tried at least one practice such as manifestation, astrology, tarot readings, visits to a psychic or love spells. The share falls sharply with age: 25% of Generation X and 12% of baby boomers said the same. The poll has a stated margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Key Facts
- 64% of Gen Z and 51% of millennials have tried a mystical practice for love, against 25% of Gen X and 12% of boomers.
- Manifestation was the most common practice reported, followed by visits to a psychic.
- 19% of Gen Z respondents said they had paid for a spell or love ritual sold through platforms such as Etsy or TikTok, against 2% of boomers.
- Nearly half of the Gen Z and millennial respondents who tried these practices said they worked at least somewhat.
- Therapy is still Gen Z's most trusted source of dating advice, but about one in three turn to astrology, psychics or tarot.
- The sample was 1,013 US adults aged 18 to 60; the survey was commissioned by DatingNews.
Why It Matters
The numbers say less about magic than about mood. Dating apps promised endless choice, but many young users now describe swiping as tiring and unrewarding. Relationship coach Amy Chan, author of the book Unsingle, has linked the trend to a loss of agency: when dating feels broken and out of their control, she said, people grow more open to magical thinking because it gives them a sense of taking the reins and some hope. New York psychologist Sabrina Romanoff said she has seen more of this among her clients, and that what people once raised as a joke they now take seriously. Both point to uncertainty as the root cause.
Young people are also less likely to treat these rituals as a bit of fun. The survey found Gen Z respondents more likely than older groups to use them for practical goals, such as fixing a relationship or winning back an ex. That matters because paid spells and readings cost money, and a ritual cannot change another person's feelings.
For Indian readers, the findings will sound familiar. Astrology and horoscope matching have long been part of how many families approach marriage, and online tarot and astrology content is now popular with young Indians too. The US survey suggests the pull is not cultural alone. It grows when young people feel the usual routes to a relationship are failing them.
| Group | Tried a mystical practice for love |
|---|---|
| Gen Z | 64% |
| Millennials | 51% |
| Gen X | 25% |
| Baby boomers | 12% |
Impact
Short-term: Expect more paid spells, readings and manifestation content aimed at young singles on social media and online marketplaces.
Long-term: If young adults keep looking outside dating apps for hope and guidance, apps and counsellors may face pressure to offer something more personal than a feed of profiles.
Who is affected: Young singles, especially those worn out by dating apps; sellers of readings and rituals; therapists and relationship coaches.
A healthy way to read this: rituals such as journaling about what you want in a partner can help you reflect, which may be why manifestation is popular. The risk begins when money is spent on promises of a guaranteed result, or when a reading replaces an honest conversation with the person involved.
Key Takeaway
A US survey finds 64% of Gen Z have turned to manifestation, tarot, psychics or spells for love, a sign of how uncertain many young people feel about modern dating.
Questions and Answers
What did the DatingNews survey find about Gen Z and love?
It found that 64% of Gen Z adults in the United States had tried at least one mystical practice, such as manifestation, astrology, tarot, psychics or love spells, to help their love lives, compared with 12% of baby boomers.
How many young people paid for a love spell?
19% of Gen Z respondents said they had bought a spell or love ritual through platforms such as Etsy or TikTok, compared with 2% of baby boomers.
Why are young people turning to these practices?
Experts point to uncertainty and a feeling of having no control over dating. A ritual can give a sense of acting on the problem and some hope, even though it cannot change another person's choices.
How reliable is the survey?
It is a single commercial poll of 1,013 US adults aged 18 to 60, commissioned by a dating news site, with a margin of error of about 3 percentage points. Its results are self-reported and describe American adults, not Indians.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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