A new dating trend known as “zip coding” is gaining traction, particularly among Gen Z couples who prioritise proximity over emotional depth. Rather than casting a wide net, people are now setting ultra-tight filters on dating apps to match only with others in their same zip code or neighbourhood. 

This practice isn’t just about convenience. Some relationships exist only while both partners are geographically close - a phenomenon dubbed “situational monogamy”. In other words, couples stay together when co-located, but drift apart as soon as they’re physically distant. 

While dates close to home do save time and reduce uncertainty, experts warn that narrowing your dating pool too drastically can reinforce social biases and limit emotional growth.  The trend also mirrors a shift in modern relationships: romantic connection is increasingly treated like a service, filtered and optimised for convenience.

As zip coding reshapes how people find love, it raises questions about whether proximity is becoming a substitute for real connection - or worse, a barrier to it.