People who aren’t in Gen-Z are glad they aren’t part of the age group because of a new dating fad termed “throning.”
Another day, another strange trend in dating. We’ve already talked about some bad trends to watch out for, such as “dexting,” “zombie-ing,” “floodlighting,” and even the “penny method.”
The modern dating scene is like walking through a minefield of new words and trends.
Now, relationship gurus are ringing the alarm about another Gen-Z dating fad that makes older people wish for simpler times.
“Throning” is a new spin on an old activity, even though the idea isn’t completely new.
“Throning” is one of the new dating trends that show how Gen Z sees love.
The New York Post has reported on new trends that have come up in recent polls, such as “yap-trapping” (being stuck with someone who talks too much) and “freak matching” (finding mates who share your weird interests).
When relationship specialists started to see trends in how younger people date, the “throning” phenomenon got a lot of attention.
A lot of older people have talked about the “throning” trend, and many of them are happy about their own dating experiences.
People on social media have said things like, “This world proves to me more and more every day how lucky I am to have grown up in the 80s.”
Another person on social media said that “throning” shows “a generation prioritizing social currency.” They also said that “true connection and genuine love are timeless values that shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Experts in relationships are worried about the mental effects of “throning.”
Jo Emerson, an expert on human behavior, told Newsweek that the trend’s popularity is due to how social media has changed how Gen Z sees the world.
Emerson said that Gen Zers have seen how easy it is for the average person to become rich, powerful, and famous through social media, and they want to do the same.
This is a big change from how people used to date.
For Gen Xers or even millennials, you only really became famous if you were really good at something and got lucky. Anyone can become famous online these days; therefore, the common individual can get rich, powerful, and famous.
Kate Daly, a relationship specialist and co-founder of the online divorce service amicable, talked about the possible pros and cons of the trend.
She says that status-driven dating can lead to personal growth or ambition when done in a healthy way, but she also warns of more significant problems.
Daly said that trying to build relationships based on status can lead to unreasonable expectations since it may put more value on outside signs of success than on deeper connections or compatibility.
When people choose partners mostly based on their accomplishments or social position, they may start to see relationships as transactions, where their self-worth is based on how well they can “match” their partner’s status.
Experts are worried that “throning” isn’t a good way to date, and research backs them up.
A 2018 study in Science Advances discovered that people who use dating apps always aim too high, looking for partners who are about 25% more appealing than they are.
The study found that users are “unlikely to get replies from people who are 25 percent more desirable than themselves.”
This creates a dilemma because looking for partners with higher prestige makes it less likely that you will make meaningful connections.
One study said that the more people chase perceived status, the less likely they are to make real, two-way interactions.