It’s no secret that communication can open doors. However, the same applies to romantic connections, and a new dating trend seems to be taking that advice and running with it.
“Throning” describes the practice of falling in love with a younger person out of love and because of the social status it brings to the relationship. Think Kim Kardashian and Kanye West or Industry‘s Yasmin and Henry: Throning is about enhancing one’s dignity through union.
According to the dating app Plenty of Fish, about 30% of singles admit to participating in a social promotion. While hypergamy, the practice of dating or marrying someone of higher social status than you, has shaped relationships for centuries, kingship is not just about net worth but about leveraging a network of partners and influence in today’s product-obsessed world.
In fact, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to expand your social circles through your romantic connections (after all, the concept of romantic dating is a relatively new concept in the history books). But problems arise in modern dating when the motivation to fall in love with someone is driven solely by social desires, rather than romantic interest or attraction. A study in Science Advances found that dating app users aim for about 25% more “desirable” matches than themselves, a modern spin on the age-old desire to “rekindle.” Perhaps that plays a role in why nearly half of all online daters and more than half of dating women say their experiences have been negative on apps, according to a Pew study.
In today’s social media driven world it is easier than ever to measure someone’s social standing by their posts and follower count. Clout, in this context, has become a new currency, using the “clout chaser” used to describe those who seek fame by association. In a world where fans are status symbols, relationships are another way to make a name for yourself.
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