Newsweek
Older and Uglier: Why Gen Z Is Embracing ‘Shrekking’ Dating Trend
“Social media and dating-app culture have amplified appearance hierarchies," Dr. Jennie Rosier told Newsweek.
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TikToker Warns Against "Shreking" Dating Trend After Disastrous Experiences
Gen Z's "Shreking" Dating Trend Under Scrutiny Following Personal Account A recent social media video has brought attention to "shreking," a Gen Z dating phenomenon where individuals intentionally date partners they do not find physically attractive, operating under the belief that these partners will compensate with superior kindness and loyalty. The trend, which draws its name from the animated character Shrek, suggests a transactional approach to relationships based on perceived physical appeal. The video features TikTok user trévon, who shared his personal experiences with "shreking." Trévon explained, "I just learned that people are doing this new thing, Gen Z's doing this thing called shreking, which is where you date somebody that you don't find physically attractive whatsoever, like you think they're actually ugly, but the theory is that they're going to treat you well because they're ugly." However, trévon offered a stark warning, stating that his own attempts at "shreking" with past partners yielded negative results. "I did that with every ex that I've ever had," he recounted, "and they've all turned out evil because they had a baddie on their arm. They gained all this confidence and they ended up cheating on me, lying to me, manipulating me, gaslighting me... They ended up being the worst human being I've ever met in my entire life." Trévon's account suggests that the premise of "shreking" may be flawed, indicating that perceived physical attractiveness does not dictate a person's character or how they will treat a partner. His experience serves as a cautionary tale against entering relationships based on such calculated expectations. The video has sparked discussion online regarding the ethics and effectiveness of this emerging dating strategy.
