[s1artibartfast]

They are objecting to the zero-sum aspect, not the competition.

IF you need to make your married partner feel worse to make yourself happier, you are absolutely doing it wrong.

[WalterSear]

This is just silly. Teens aren't married. Competition for relationships is absolutely a thing.

[s1artibartfast]

Competition for partners is a thing but still not zero sum. The number of people in relationships is not fixed. You can increase the sum by starting a relationship that wouldn't otherwise exist.

Satisfaction you get out of it is obviously not zero sum as well.

If this is how teens think, it is no wonder they are miserable. Happiness is not zero sum, it can be created. In fact, it must be created