A growing online trend has young women joking that having a boyfriend feels “embarrassing,” reflecting how dating norms and expectations have shifted in the age of social media. The joke, which circulates widely on TikTok and X, highlights the tension between wanting connection and wanting to appear independent and unbothered.

Many women say today’s dating culture makes relationships feel risky. Apps can be draining, situationships often lead nowhere, and public judgment online makes people more self-conscious about their romantic choices. Showing affection too openly or caring too much can even be mocked as “pick-me” behavior.

The humour also taps into a broader cultural moment where self-prioritisation is valued. Messages about being in your “girl era,” focusing on yourself, and avoiding emotional dependence have become mainstream, making commitment look old-fashioned or overly vulnerable.

Experts note that the trend doesn’t mean women truly see relationships as shameful. Instead, it reflects emotional fatigue, fear of disappointment, and the pressure to seem effortlessly strong. Many of the jokes are intentionally exaggerated, using irony to cope with modern dating frustrations.

Ultimately, the trend isn’t about rejecting love it’s about navigating a dating landscape that feels unpredictable, hyper-visible, and sometimes a little cringe. Women are laughing about it, but they’re also expressing real anxieties about what it means to date in 2025.