‘Shrekking’ is the new dating trend that’s actually an insult to you

Another day, another dating trend - but this time, it's our favourite ogre who has been dragged into helping us describe our relationship dilemmas.

Last week, it was Bob the Builder who unwittingly became the face of a bizarre dating trend, and now, social media users have made Shrek the mascot for another.

People aren't really sure why online users seem to be digging up our favourite childhood characters and putting a romantic twist on them all of a sudden, but alas, that's the internet for you.

And although you could argue that the Shrek films show us that unlikely love stories can sometimes lead to a happily ever after, that isn't what the term 'shrekking' means.

Unfortunately for the loveable mythical beast, the dating trend, of which he is the figurehead, isn't exactly flattering.

The term 'shrekking' sadly doesn't refer to a couple like him and Princess Fiona defying all the odds and getting a fairytale ending, but rather 'dating down'.

It's a phrase coined by Gen Z that describes a person deliberately choosing romantic partners who they deem less attractive or desirable than themselves.

It's supposedly inspired by the main storyline from the fantasy comedy film, which sees Fiona take a chance on the ogre and it all working out in the end.

The idea is that by dropping your standards, you should supposedly avoid any heartache.

If you're seeing someone who you consider to be punching with you, according to social media users, you have the advantage.

As you're the hotter one, you're 'less attractive' other half will be so grateful that you've paid them any attention, they won't dare step a foot out of line. Or so Gen Z say, anyway.

This, ladies and gentleman, is what's known as 'shrekking'.

But as we all know, having the prettiest face in the world won't completely rid you of the risk of getting hurt in a relationship.

So, if you drop your standards and still end up sobbing into a tub of Ben & Jerry's while watching romcoms, you have been 'shrekked'.

Social media user Bekah put it best when she said in a TikTok video: "We’ve all been there: We give the guy we're not attracted to a chance, thinking that he will for sure know what he has and treat us well.

"And then, we get traumatised by a whole troll."

Experts have raised some concerns about putting this dating trend into practice, though, such as relationship coach Amy Chan.

Describing being 'shrekked' in her own words, the Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Heart author said: "In this plot line, you're dating an ogre without the princess treatment."

"The term might be new, but the behaviour isn’t," she told USA Today. "Plenty of people have put looks lower on the list or hoped attraction would grow over time, and that in itself isn’t a bad thing.

"Where it backfires is when someone assumes that just because they’re dating ‘down’ in looks, they’ll automatically be treated better."

When this doesn't happen, Chan says you shouldn't let it put you off people who might not have the appearance of a model.

"For those who've been 'shrekked,' the goal isn't to retreat back to only dating conventionally attractive people," she went on.

"It's to develop better assessment skills for character, values and emotional availability regardless of what package they come in.

"Physical attraction matters in romantic relationships, but it shouldn't be the inverse predictor of good treatment that some people assume it to be."

Emma Hathorn, a relationship expert at Seeking.com, agreed - warning that there's a lot more that goes into a successful relationship than how a person looks.

"The idea is that you stepped outside your comfort zone, but instead of being rewarded with growth or connection, you wound up regretting the experience," Hathorn said of 'shrekking'.

"When two people are genuinely driven towards a similar goal and values, they can find an attraction in each other that surprises them and refutes the shallower factors like physical type and societal expectations."

As Shrek famously says, 'ogres are like onions, they have layers' - and so are us lot, no matter how conventionally attractive you may be.