There are a lot of fucked-up dating trends—ghosting (ending a relationship without an explanation), fleabagging (dating someone not right for you) and much, much more. Luckily, this new generation of singles is not having that bullshit. If they’re not posting their latest TikTok or flooding their IG stories with fun, filtered selfies, they’re on dating apps “Thunberging.”
What is thunberging, you ask? Well, it’s all about vibing with a fellow single who is as eco-conscious as you.
Coined by dating site OkCupid last March, the term was inspired by young, eco-activist Greta Thunberg where like-minded daters bond over saving the planet. “The dating site reports that the phrase ‘climate change’ increased 240 percent in its users’ profiles over the last two years,” writes DAZED. They also point out how the most mentioned topics on Tinder last year were environment, climate change and social justice.
OkCupid adds that there was a 240 percent increase in mentions of climate change and other environmental terms two years in the making. Last year, the most mentioned name on the dating site was Greta Thunberg’s. DAZED hypothesized that kids are making this a priority ’cause of our collective anxiety over the planet.
“A recent study by the American Psychological Association found one-fifth of wider society currently suffer with ‘eco-anxiety’, fearing environmental doom,” explains DAZED. “It should be no surprise then, that young people are looking for a partner that shares their ideals.”
It’s such a cute dating trend that’s not harmful or sexist. A huge plus? These kids in love might actually bond together to save the environment. As dating trends come and go, this is the one I’m hoping would stick around for a long time.
Art by Rogin Losa