The Rise of Platonic Life Partnerships: The Future of Love or Just Friendship 2.0?
Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Romantic love has long been considered the gold standard for meaningful relationships. It’s the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters, the centerpiece of countless wedding hashtags, and often treated as the key to “happily ever after.”
But what if life doesn’t have to revolve around romance?
Enter Platonic Life Partnerships (PLPs)—an emerging relationship trend where two people commit to building a life together but without romantic or sexual involvement.
These partnerships can involve anything from sharing finances to cohabitating to co-parenting, and they’re gaining traction as people seek new ways to fulfill their emotional and practical needs.
But is this really a revolution in how we define relationships, or just a new label for deep friendship?
Let’s explore the evidence, trends, and nuances of this movement, blending real-world data with a healthy dose of curiosity.
What Exactly Is a Platonic Life Partnership?
A Platonic Life Partnership (PLP) is a committed relationship between two people who choose to share their lives in ways traditionally associated with romantic relationships—but without the romance or sexual intimacy. Think of it as a “best friendship” leveled up:
Partners share financial responsibilities (e.g., splitting bills, saving for retirement together).
They may cohabitate, co-parent pets or children, or make long-term plans like purchasing a house.
Unlike casual friendships, PLPs are seen as the person’s primary relationship—their "partner for life."
These partnerships are especially appealing to people who value deep emotional connection but don’t want (or need) romantic or sexual relationships to achieve fulfillment.
Why Are PLPs Becoming a Thing Now?
Several societal, cultural, and economic shifts are fueling the rise of PLPs. Here's a closer look at the key drivers behind this trend:
Declining Marriage Rates
Marriage rates in the U.S. have been steadily declining over the decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2021), only 50% of adults in the U.S. are currently married, compared to 72% in 1960. Some say PLPs are the future of love. But what about kids? The human experiment? Pietas?
Younger generations are delaying marriage or opting out entirely, citing reasons such as financial instability, changing gender roles, and the desire to focus on personal growth.
Rising Loneliness
The “loneliness epidemic” is real. A 2020 Cigna study found that 61% of Americans reported feeling lonely, a problem exacerbated by the pandemic. People are searching for deep, lasting connections—and PLPs offer a reliable and fulfilling way to combat isolation.
Dating Fatigue
Romantic relationships can feel like a minefield, especially in the age of dating apps.
A 2020 Pew Research Center study found that 45% of dating app users describe the experience as frustrating, with complaints about ghosting, superficial connections, and hookup culture. PLPs provide an alternative: a stable, drama-free connection with someone you trust.
LGBTQ+ Influence and Chosen Families
The concept of “chosen family”—building intentional relationships outside of traditional nuclear family structures—has long been celebrated in LGBTQ+ communities. Platonic partnerships are a natural extension of this idea, offering people a way to create the support system they need without relying on romantic relationships.
Financial Realities
Housing costs, student loans, and childcare expenses have made life increasingly unaffordable for many Americans. A Zillow (2019) study found that cohabitation among roommates has increased by 30% since 2000. PLPs offer not just emotional support but practical benefits like shared expenses and resources.
PLPs and Social Media: Real-Life Buzz
Social media platforms are helping to amplify the PLP trend by providing a space for people to share their stories and normalize the idea of friendship-first commitment.
TikTok
The hashtag #PlatonicLifePartner has thousands of posts, many featuring best friends celebrating milestones like buying homes, raising pets, or even throwing “commitment parties” (yes, complete with rings!). These videos often receive comments like, “I didn’t know this was a thing, but now I NEED it!”
Subreddits like r/relationships and r/platonic host discussions where users share their experiences or seek advice about PLPs. One popular thread, titled “My best friend and I want to be life partners. How do we explain this to our families?”received hundreds of responses, including tips on setting boundaries and creating legal agreements.
Instagram posts tagged with #FriendshipGoals and #ChosenFamily showcase visually inspiring examples of PLPs. From friends posing with “we just bought a house!” signs to celebrations of anniversaries, it’s clear the idea is resonating with people across the globe.
What Are the Benefits of PLPs?
Stability Without Romantic Drama
PLPs prioritize trust, communication, and shared goals over passion or romance. This can create a more stable, predictable dynamic for people who value long-term commitment but don’t want the emotional rollercoaster of traditional romantic relationships.
Combating Loneliness
In a society where loneliness is rampant, PLPs provide a deep and meaningful connection. As a 2017 study in Personal Relationships found, high-quality friendships contribute significantly to happiness and longevity—sometimes even more than romantic partnerships.
Freedom to Define Your Own Rules
PLPs are highly customizable. Whether it’s cohabitation, co-parenting, or just a shared financial plan, partners can decide what works best for them. There’s no rigid script to follow.
The Challenges and Critiques of PLPs
Legal Hurdles
PLPs don’t have the same legal protections as marriage. For example, partners need to create contracts for things like joint property ownership, medical power of attorney, and inheritance rights.
Social Stigma
Explaining a PLP to family or coworkers can be tricky. Many people still view romance as the ultimate form of commitment, so PLPs may be misunderstood or dismissed as “just a phase.”
Boundaries and Conflict
What happens if one partner starts dating someone romantically? What if priorities shift over time? These challenges require strong communication and clear agreements to navigate.
Neurodiversity and the Appeal of PLPs
For some neurodivergent folks, PLPs might offer unique benefits:
Predictability and Clarity: Romantic relationships can feel overwhelming for people with autism or ADHD, especially when dealing with unspoken rules or shifting expectations. PLPs provide a more structured, straightforward dynamic.
Emotional Safety: PLPs allow neurodivergent folks to create relationships on their own terms, free from societal pressures or norms.
Flexibility: PLPs can be tailored to accommodate sensory needs, routines, or other considerations important to neurodivergent partners.
A 2020 study in Autism in Adulthood found that autistic folks often prefer relationships with clearly defined boundaries and expectations, which aligns well with the PLP model.
Are PLPs the Future of Relationships? Hardly.
PLPs aren’t a replacement for romantic relationships, but they are a powerful alternative for people seeking connection outside of traditional norms.
They challenge the narrative that romance is the only path to fulfillment and offer a more inclusive vision of what lifelong commitment can look like.
As conversations about PLPs gain traction on social media and in real life, they may become a defining feature of modern relationships.
Whether you view them as groundbreaking or just a rebranding of deep friendship, one thing is clear: they seem to be meeting a real need in today’s world.
So, is it time to call your best friend and draft that life-partnership contract? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just time to appreciate the different ways love can show up in our lives—and make space for all of them.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Cigna. (2020). Loneliness in America: How the pandemic exacerbated an epidemic of loneliness. Retrieved from https://www.cigna.com
Pew Research Center. (2020). The challenges of online dating: 45% of users find the experience frustrating.Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org
U.S. Census Bureau. (2021). America’s families and living arrangements: 2021. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov
Zillow. (2019). The rise of cohabitation among roommates in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.zillow.com
Sias, P. M., & Bartoo, H. (2017). Friendship, social support, and health. Personal Relationships, 24(2), 235-246. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12190
Tint, A., & Weiss, J. A. (2020). Relationships in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism in Adulthood, 2(1), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0056