In today’s hyper-connected world, chronically online Gen Zers are adopting unexpected digital behaviours as they reassess their relationship with technology. No longer consumed with self-sustaining images of online perfection, there’s a growing degree of openness happening on social media – which hasn’t escaped their romantic endeavours.

As the young cohort grows more willing to live in an open world and step away from behind the screen, many are feeling bolder than previous generations to express their imperfections and awkwardness, particularly through the lens of dating.

On TikTok, this evolving behaviour is on full display as hoards of young people share their misfortune dating experiences, looking beyond the cringe and embracing their past rather than being defined by it.

The videos, which are set to Gnarls Barkley’s 2006 hit ‘Crazy’, have already amassed 151.8K videos and counting on the video-first platform. In one viral clip, a TikTok user explains an experience where she created a private Instagram story to show off her dance skills to a crush after learning they liked dancers.

Through Barkley’s lyrics which state ‘I remember when I lost my mind,’ young people are sharing clips and videos of their cringiest dating experiences, using it as fodder for humour but also personal development.

But what does this digital-first trend say about Gen Z dating norms and expectations?

For one, Gen Zers are shedding their perfectly curated online personas for a more vulnerable, open-ended honesty which they put on full display. This chimes in with the fact that more than half of Gen Z Hinge users say that a fear of rejection has held them back from pursuing a romantic interest – embracing the cringe is one way to counteract this.

However, this dating trend is not without its fair share of criticism.

Gen Yers, in contrast, are surprised by Gen Z’s radical honesty on social media. Many are sharing their horror at young people’s revelation of their grave dating moments and experiences, preferring to keep such unwelcome antics behind closed doors.

But not one to be silenced, Gen Z is showing that vulnerability and cringecore can be a powerful tool in their relationships. And it's this mindset shift that's helping the 81% of UK Gen Zers who struggle with insecurities when it comes to relationships get over that initial dating hurdle.

The result of this latest combination of cringe nostalgia? A generation of young daters who are keenly aware of the power of embracing awkward moments, changing dating norms for the foreseeable future as online habits make their way to offline spaces.