the oung way

Hookup culture is one that accepts and encourages casual sex encounters, including one-night stands and other related activity, without necessarily including emotional intimacy, bonding or a committed relationship.

It is generally associated with Western late adolescent sexuality and, in particular, United States college culture. The term hookup has an ambiguous definition because it can indicate kissing or any form of physical sexual activity between sexual partners.

The term has been widely used in the U.S. since at least 2000. It has also been called nonrelationship sex, or sex without dating. Most research on hookups has been focused on U.S. college students, but hookups are not limited to college campuses. Adolescents and emerging adults engage in hookups for a variety of reasons, which may range from instant physical gratification, to fulfillment of emotional needs, to using it as a means of finding a long-term romantic partner. Reaction by media to hookup culture has been often considered moral panic. The recent introduction of mobile hookup apps and websites have shaped hookup culture, especially among gay men.