‘Just want someone who can handle my banter’ (Picture: Getty)
The term ‘beige flags’ is currently dominating TikTok with a whopping 6.8 million views – but what exactly does the brownish banner represent and how can you tell if your dating profile is littered with them?
Coined by the self-proclaimed CEO of Beige Flags, TikTok user Caitlin MacPhail, beige flags are the more mundane younger sibling of red flags, and are indicators that ‘you are probably very boring.’
In a series of videos called ‘R U Beige’, Caitlin has been sharing the beige flags she’s spotted on people’s dating profiles such as ‘sharing opinions on pineapple on pizza, any reference to extremely mainstream romcoms and using puppies to hide your lack of personality.’
Beige flags cover any unoriginal content that we see time and time again across people’s dating profiles. It’s sort of a mix between being ‘cheugy’ and giving your date ‘the ick’, neither of which bode well for finding a perfect match.
According to Jessica Alderson, a relationship expert and the co-founder of So Syncd, beige flags have become a phenomenon due to dating app fatigue.
‘People are fed up with going on dates with just anyone,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.
‘We’re all busy and we don’t want to waste an evening sitting opposite someone we aren’t compatible with in any way. This has meant that people’s standards for dating app profiles have gone up.
‘If your profile shows beige flags, a lot of people will now just move on to the next. Dating app profiles have become more creative and interesting as the years have gone on so the bar is now higher.’
‘Who wants to date someone who’s completely unoriginal?’ (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Jess warns that, if you have a generic dating app profile, it can make people unsure about how original and fun you will be in real life. At the end of the day, everyone wants a partner who is unique and interesting.
A minimal effort dating app profile, however, may indicate you’re unwilling to invest time into someone else in the future – and who wants that?
As we’re stuck in this ‘very dull circle of hell’, as Caitlin puts it, curating your profile can become a difficult balancing act between not giving too much away and still getting matches’ attention.
‘While you aren’t obligated to share every major personal detail about yourself on your dating app profile, you do need to share parts of yourself’, says Jessica.
‘Creating a truly original dating app profile requires vulnerability which is essential for building a connection. You’re putting yourself out there and risking rejection.’
She advises keeping it light while emphasising your uniqueness, as well as avoiding too many messages before you meet in person so you won’t run out of conversation.
Jessica says: ‘To avoid coming across as beige, you’ll want to get across what makes you different. That’s the best way to stand out.
‘Cute quirks are usually a good starting point. Humour makes your profile more interesting too because it’s a universally attractive trait.’
Still unsure if your dating profile is coming across boring and basic? Then it might be time to call in the most brutally honest opinion-givers of all: your friends.
‘Whatever stage of creating your profile you’re at, whether you’re right at the beginning or about to press go, your friends’ advice and responses can be valuable,’ advises Jessica.
‘It can be hard to be objective when you’re making a profile about yourself and your friends can offer an outside perspective.’
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‘Sharing opinions on pineapple on pizza, any reference to romcoms and using puppies to hide your lack of personality’