Step aside, Shrekking. There’s a new dating trend on the throne and it’s not exactly romantic.
“Throning” is the latest dating buzzword making the rounds on TikTok and beyond. It describes dating up not because someone gives you butterflies, but because they give you clout.
The goal?
To elevate your own social status by being linked to someone who already has it. Think of it as gold digging with a social media filter. đź’…
đź‘‘ Throning vs. Shrekking
You might remember Shrekking which is dating someone “less conventionally attractive” because you assume they’ll treat you better. Throning is the opposite.
When someone’s throning, they’re dating a “king” or “queen” to level up their own image. They’re not in it for love. They’re in it for the likes.
“Basically, the date is a throne used to elevate the person who is doing the throning,” one TikToker explained. “It’s about influence, not intimacy.”
đźš© How to Spot a Throner
Dating coach and author Amy Chan puts it perfectly:
“People are curating relationships the same way they curate content.”
Here are a few red flags that might mean someone’s throning you:
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They’re more interested in who’s watching than who you are.
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They change their behavior when you’re in public vs. private.
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They’re obsessed with your social circle or follower count.
It’s not about how the relationship feels — it’s about how it looks.
📸 The Social Media Effect
Throning isn’t entirely new. It’s just gotten a 2025 upgrade. What used to be called “clout chasing” or “gold digging” has evolved.
Now, it’s not just about money or power.
It’s about followers, engagement, and how good you look as a couple on Instagram. 💥
Social media has made it easier than ever to fake a fairytale while quietly building a personal brand.
❤️ Real Talk
If someone’s treating you like a prop in their social feed, it’s not love. It’s marketing.
So before you fall for a “king” or “queen” who seems just a little too interested in your network, make sure they’re actually courting you not your clout.
Because throning đź‘‘ looks cute on TikTok until it ends in heartbreak IRL.
🫅 Trend takeaway: Relationships shouldn’t be a PR strategy. Date for connection, not clout.
#Throning #DatingTrends #StacyKnows #ModernLove #TikTokDating #RedFlags #RelationshipGoals #CloutChasing #Shrekking #ThroneNotThron
Photo by Dellon Thomas: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-holding-crown-3674236/
