A new international study has found that the term 'lesbian' is becoming less common among younger generations, who are increasingly choosing modern labels such as 'queer', 'pansexual', and 'asexual' to describe their sexual identities. Researchers analyzed data from nearly one million users of a dating app for queer women and nonbinary people, revealing that while 'lesbian' and 'bisexual' remain the most popular identities overall, younger users are far more likely to adopt newer or broader terms.

The study highlights significant generational and regional differences, with younger people displaying greater diversity in identity and older users favoring more traditional labels. Countries in the Global North tend to show more varied sexual identities, though some nations in the Global South also exhibit broader representation. Experts say these findings reflect a rapid evolution in how sexual identities are understood and expressed, emphasizing the importance of expanding research to include emerging identities.