Is Shreking the New Soft Life Dating Move?

Photo: DreamWorks 

Move over, ghosting and breadcrumbing a new dating trend is quietly taking over social media: Shreking. Popularized by Gen Z on TikTok and lifestyle blogs in 2025, shreking is when someone intentionally dates a partner they’re not fully attracted to, often because that person offers comfort, attention, or emotional ease. 

The term draws a playful connection to the Shrek films: unconventional love that challenges traditional beauty standards. But in modern dating slang, it’s less about fairy tales and more about strategy opting for consistency, loyalty, or what some call “soft life vibes” over chemistry or passion.
For many, shreking offers a kind of relief. 

Photo: Freepik

There’s less know drama, fewer ego battles, and a relationship that feels easier to maintain. It’s a conscious choice to prioritise emotional safety, stability, and predictability sometimes at the expense of spark or romance.

But the trend isn’t without its critics. Experts warn that shreking can turn relationships into transactions, reducing love to convenience and security rather than genuine connection. Over time, dating purely for comfort may leave partners questioning whether they truly know their own hearts or if they’ve settled into a pattern that’s easy, but emotionally shallow.

Photo: Freepik

Shreking also highlights the evolving pressures of modern dating. In an age of swipe culture, curated social media lives, and constant comparison, the strategy appeals to those who crave a “soft life” approach: less effort, fewer surprises, and a sense of control over the dating experience.

At the end of the day, shreking is more than a viral word, it’s a conversation starter. It forces us to ask: Are we choosing partners for who they really are, or for how safe and convenient they make our lives? As with any dating trend, it’s playful, controversial, and undeniably a reflection of how love adapts in a digital age.

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