It’s no secret that we’re fascinated by the many dating trends that make it to the video-sharing platform TikTok: from Masterdating to Boysober, we’ve covered quite a few over the past few months. Yet, believe it or not, the latest one is rather more controversial than most.
Called ‘throning’, the trend sees people date in order to climb the social ladder; often going for partners that have a higher social status, more money, or, in the world of TikTok, more followers. The term, in fact, refers specifically to putting these people on the throne because of the advantages of being seen dating them.
While this is by no means a new phenomenon, what’s quite surprising is that people are admitting to it; and outright stating that they are dating someone to improve their status. Yet, as this dating trend increases the person’s clout and influence, it also comes with certain obvious pitfalls.
For a start, dating someone because of their status is obviously shallow. Secondly, in the long run, a person may have a lot to lose, especially if their status is so intertwined with the person they are dating.
The biggest issue, however, is that this rarely leads to fulfilling relationships or a deep, emotional attachment, which are important to overall well being, self-esteem, and psychological health. After all, as human beings, we crave connection, not just a better station.
So, while the trend may, like many others, come and go, it’s important to keep in mind that not all dating trends are healthy or beneficial. In fact, some may actually be extremely detrimental.