Why Gen Z Can't Make Plans Without Saying 'We Should Hang Out' (But Never Do)

The Art of Making Plans We'll Never Keep: Gen Z Edition

Okay, let's be real for a second. If you’re Gen Z, you’ve probably said, “We should totally hang out!” at least 100 times this year, and how many times has it actually happened? Exactly. We're all guilty of it, and honestly, it's become a core part of our identity at this point. It’s almost like an unspoken rule in our generation: casually make plans that sound great, but deep down, we know there’s a 98% chance they’re never gonna happen.

So, why do we do this? Let’s break down the hilarious reality of why “we should hang out” is basically Gen Z’s way of saying, “It’s not happening, but I wanna sound friendly.”

The Initial Plan-Making: Peak Optimism

It all starts out with the best intentions. You're chatting with someone you haven't seen in a while, or maybe you just met them at some party or during a group project. The convo's flowing, you’re vibing, and suddenly one of you drops the golden line: “We should totally hang out soon!”

At that exact moment, the vibe is pure optimism. You picture yourselves grabbing coffee, maybe going thrifting, or hitting up a cute brunch spot. You're both nodding like, “Yass, let’s make this happen!”

But here’s the catch—there’s never a specific date, time, or place mentioned. It’s all vibes, no logistics. And that, my friends, is where the dream starts to fade.

The Text Exchange: The False Hope Phase

If you’re lucky enough to make it past the verbal agreement stage (shocking, I know), the convo moves to texts. It usually looks something like this:

You: “Hey! So when are we hanging out? 😊”
Them: “Omg yesss! I’m free next week, how about you?”
You: “Next week is kinda busy, but the week after should be good!”
Them: “Same! Let’s plan for that!”

And then…crickets.

At this point, you’re both aware that life is about to get in the way. It’s not that you don’t want to hang out; it’s just that there’s literally zero follow-through on both sides. You start thinking about the 50 other things you’ve committed to (like binge-watching a show you’ve rewatched 12 times), and before you know it, weeks have passed and that hangout? Yeah, it’s not happening.

The Mutual Ghosting: No Hard Feelings

The beauty of Gen Z? We’re super chill about it. Neither person follows up, but there’s no awkwardness or guilt. It’s like we both silently agree that it’s cool we never actually hung out. We just move on with our lives as if the plans were never even made, no harm done.

And the best part? The next time you run into them (probably months later), it’s the same exact conversation on repeat.

Them: “Omg, we still haven’t hung out! We have to make it happen this time.”
You: “I know, right?! Let’s do it!”

Spoiler alert: You won’t.

The "Busy, Busy" Lifestyle

So, what’s the reason behind all this plan flakiness? Well, Gen Z’s got a pretty solid excuse—we’re busy. Between juggling school, work, side hustles, hobbies, and spending hours on TikTok (yeah, that counts as a hobby), who has time to hang out IRL? We’re out here grinding, trying to survive capitalism, maintain our mental health, and maybe squeeze in a social life somewhere in between.

Making solid plans often feels like just another thing on the never-ending to-do list, and honestly, that nap or Netflix binge sounds way more appealing than going outside and being a functioning human. We’d love to hang out…but at the same time, we also wouldn’t mind just texting about it instead.

The Social Media Substitute

Here’s the real truth: hanging out virtually has become way more convenient than actually meeting up. If you think about it, we’re already in each other’s lives constantly through memes, DMs, and TikTok links. Why leave the comfort of our beds when we can laugh at the same video together over text?

And let’s not forget the power of the group chat. The whole squad’s in there 24/7, so technically, we are hanging out. Group FaceTimes, sending memes, complaining about life—what more do we need? Physical meetups are starting to feel a bit overrated when you can get your social fix without putting on pants.

When It Actually Happens: A Miracle

Now, on the off chance that plans do materialize (this is, like, a once-a-year phenomenon), it’s a huge deal. You both show up in shock, low-key proud of yourselves for defying all odds. And the hangout? It’s probably amazing. You vibe, catch up on all the TikTok drama, and for a few hours, it’s like you're living in that fantasy world where plans actually happen.

But don’t get too comfortable—this moment is rare. Savor it, because once the hangout ends, the cycle starts again. Back to “we should totally hang out” territory.

The Bottom Line: It's All About the Gesture

At the end of the day, saying “we should hang out” is less about actually hanging out and more about keeping the vibe going. It’s like a friendly way of saying, “I like you enough to pretend we’ll make plans,” even though we both know we’re probably never going to lock in a date. It’s just a Gen Z thing, and honestly? No one’s mad about it.

So, the next time you hear, “We should totally hang out!” just smile, nod, and keep it moving. You’ve played your part, they’ve played theirs, and you can both go back to your regularly scheduled programming—probably scrolling TikTok in bed.

Stay tuned for more fun takes on all things Gen Z culture and social life here at Woke Waves Magazine! Just like our hangouts, we’ll keep the good vibes going. ✌️

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