A new classification of sexual orientation seems to have entered the already strangely crowded mix.
A growing number of young people now identify as greysexual, a term for those who feel sexual attraction rarely, occasionally, or only under specific conditions.
The term has become more visible online, with a Reddit forum called r/Greysexuality attracting over 8,300 active members.
Greysexual YouTuber and podcaster Mark, known online as @notdefining, says it means feeling “a bit of sexual attraction” but “to a low degree”, making it different from being fully asexual.
“It helps people understand that I do experience sexual attraction. I do have sex, I do enjoy sexual fantasies, but to a significantly lower degree than most people,” Mark explained.
Sex Recession and Social Pressures
This growing self-identification comes amid what researchers call a sex recession — a trend where millennials and Gen Z report fewer sexual partners than earlier generations.
Experts say it is not always about lack of interest. Many are held back by anxiety, poor sex education, and political debates that shape sexual rights.
US writer Carter Sherman, who interviewed over 100 young people for her book The Second Coming, found that body image pressures, porn, and digital isolation are reshaping intimacy.
According to Sherman, this has created “a climate of fear and shame” around sexual experiences, with many struggling to connect in real life despite constant online interaction.
Greysexuality as a Spectrum
The term greysexual—also called grey-A—was first used in 2006 on the Asexual Visibility and Education Network to describe the “grey area” between complete asexuality and frequent sexual attraction.
It can also overlap with identities like demisexual, where attraction occurs only after forming a strong emotional bond.
Singer Tulisa Contostavlos drew attention to the term when she revealed on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last year that she identifies as demisexual.
Some experts believe platforms like TikTok and Reddit help spread niche identity labels faster, sometimes making sexual identity seem overly complex.
Others argue it gives people language and community to express feelings they could not explain before.
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