What Is Throning? Google 2024 Report Highlights GenZ Dating Trend

Digging gold has become a thing of the past, with people supposedly seeking a full throne to sit on now. Google's recent report on trending searches in the year gone by revealed that 'throning' emerged as the most trending dating-related search.

So, what is it? A similar word to describe the recent dating trend is 'clout-chasing', which is when an individual tries to increase their own fame by being around people who already have it. The slang 'throning' means dating someone who boosts one's social status, which is very crucial in an influencer-driven world.

A 2018 study by Science Advances found that both men and women pursue partners who are, on average, about 25% more desirable than themselves, and use different messaging strategies with partners of different desirability. 

There's another side to it. In the latest episode of 'India's Got Latent'—which ranked number one on YouTube Trending with 14 million views—we see a participant constantly pursuing comedian Samay Raina. To this, he openly said he doesn't like getting involved with his followers. Clout-chasing is mostly looked down upon by people who have a higher social status.

"I see 'throning' in dating as a behavior often rooted in self-esteem struggles and the need for social validation," said Divyanshi Prabhakar, a psychologist. For those engaging in it, the focus on pursuing partners for their social influence reflects a deeper need to feel worthy, often through external means, she said.

With social media amplifying the pressure to appear desirable, it’s easy to fall into this pattern, she explained. "When someone ties their self-worth to how others perceive them, relationships can become more about status projection than emotional connection."

According to her, it is important to recognise one’s intrinsic value, independent of societal perception. "A strong sense of self that is not reliant on external validation can help a person have meaningful relationship with self and others as well," she said. "Mutual respect, shared values, and authentic emotional connections should also be prioritised over seeking approval from others."