Are you a millennial or a fellow Gen Z who fails to keep up with ever-changing slang and dating trends? It was only yesterday when we got the hang of terms like gaslighting, ghosting, breadcrumbing, love-bombing, situationships, and whatnot. Now that you’ve learnt all those terms, it’s time to update your Gen Z dictionary with a new one. It’s called throning.

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What does throning mean?

The term is used for a person who wants to date someone with good social status and wealth to increase their reputation. Basically, when you put someone on a ‘throne’ to elevate your image in society. Do you want everyone to think you are the coolest person in the room? Throne one and you’ll be one. But do you know why this term is trending these days?

Love is not in the air

The term is new but the concept isn’t. It’s an age-old phenomenon where people look for partners to level up their reputation in their social circle. Throning has gained popularity as it appropriately describes the current dating scenario. In this digital age, everyone wants to put their best selves out there and show their ‘main character energy’. This further calls for a natural inclination towards forming relationships with people who have a charming online presence. A recent study by Dating News reveals nearly 20.28% of people found themselves using dating apps just for validation. Science Advances‘ research reports that 25% of people swipe right on matches more desirable than themselves to boost their self-esteem.

Red flag alert?

We all aspire to be with someone who can help us grow and inspire us to build a good life, financially, socially, and emotionally. People with the tendency to throne might be attracted towards one’s wealth and social perks initially. However, they might also feel motivated and work towards a shared goal later. This requires a healthy bond in the long run where partners appreciate other traits in addition to what they saw at first glance. But this doesn’t nullify the negative impact of throning if it’s solely based on societal aspirations rather than love and respect. And that’s where you must navigate your way to a green forest while watching out for the red flags.

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