A new dating trend called 'throning' has reared it's head and its yet 'another reason to hate the Gen Z'ers'.
Look, I'm a Gen Z'er myself, but having never used TikTok unless for work, I count myself firmly out of the group who bash out dance routines in public for views and who permanently carry around a ring light to get the best selfie.
Many of us would probably think a potential date having a lot of followers on Instagram is actually quite icky, and if they care about whether you've got an online presence too? Well, they're a walking red flag - run the other way as fast as your legs will carry you.
Alas, to others this is apparently a turn on and it's now even developed into a dating trend of which the premise actually started a lot longer ago than you may think.
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What is throning?
We started the year looking for a man in finance, 6ft5in with a trust fund, and now it's spiralled even further.
Throning is essentially looking for a partner who you deem to be 'better' or 'too good' for you in terms of social status in a bid to boost your own.
And while this trend has actually been around for some time - watch any Jane Austen adaptation and you'll know what I mean - it's suspected 'throning' has become more popular as a result of the use of social media now too.
Whether it's Cardi B and Offset singing about doing 'anything for clout' in their 2019 single, or certain theories about celebrities dating just for the boost in their online presence and additional coverage of them in the news - have a ponder about certain engagements which were accidentally caught on camera for TV shows or a cheeky YouTube video.
Essentially, it's gold-digging but for fame rather than money - although the two typically come hand-in-hand, don't they?
The statistics
A research article published in ScienceAdvances revealed both 'men and women pursue partners who are on average about 25 percent more desirable than themselves by our measures and that they use different messaging strategies with partners of different desirability'.
In December 2018, dating platform Plenty of Fish surveyed 1,000 users and nine percent admitted to 'throning' with 27 percent of users saying they believe someone else dated them in an attempt to social climb too.
And it's not taken long for social media users to weigh in on the trend.
The reaction
One Twitter user said: "Sounds weird."
"Sounds like a wild trend! Gen Z is really pushing boundaries in dating," another added, as a third commented: "Throning = Narcissists."
"As if we needed another reason to hate the Gen Z'ers," a fourth wrote.
And a final resolved: "Clout rots the brain. If at any point in time you forsake your health, the health of others, relationships, kindness, love, friendships, and the people around you for the sake of internet money and fame, you've lost the plot."
Basically, avoid all dating trends at all costs and just buy Matthew Hussey's book Love Life which is now my relationship bible.
Topics: Celebrity, Money, Sex and Relationships, Viral
Poppy Bilderbeck