Dating trend exposing people’s quirky traits explodes in popularity

We’ve heard of red flags and green flags, but there’s a new dating trend that sits between the two – and it is exploding in popularity.

Dating trend exposing people’s quirky traits explodes in popularity. Picture: iStock

A woman has exposed her boyfriend to millions as part of a new “beige flag” trend.

The term initially emerged in 2022 and sits somewhere between a red flag — a sign the person you’re dating is toxic and you should run for the hills — and green flags, which are signs you’re in a healthy dynamic.

Thomas Edwards, dating coach and founder of The Professional Wingman, said the term was coined to describe someone who’s dating profile was boring or cliche.

However, it has recently taken on a new life after exploded on TikTok where people are using it to expose their partners, and themselves, for their quirky traits.

Beige flags are neither good nor bad. Picture: TikTok

The phenomenon sits between red and green flags. Picture: TikTok

TikTok user @cassandrapalumboo racked up more than six million views after she exposed her partner’s beige flag.

“My partner’s beige flag is that he doesn’t put his phone on silent mode throughout the night because he’s scared it means his morning alarm won’t go off,” Cassandra said.

“No mater how many times I tell him, or secretly do it and it still goes off, he just won’t risk it and I have to be consistently woken up all night by his notifications.”

The kicker was, her partner was still late to wherever he had to be each morning.

Another social media user, known on the platform as @michelleyam0, said her boyfriend’s beige flag was that if Michelle was ever crying hard, he will climb on top of her and say he didn’t want to have to resort to such methods.

“Then he will aggressively suck the tears off of my face like a human vacuum until I get into a laughing fit and cheer up,” she said.

Michelle shared her boyfriend’s ‘beige flag’. Picture: TikTok

Meanwhile @colecarterr said his girlfriend’s beige flag was her need for something sweet after a meal.

“She doesn’t even do it on purpose, her body just starts searching high and low for chocolate immediately after dinner,” he said.

“She tries to play it off when she’s looking because she’s embarrassed by it but it’s so cute she’s like a little fruit fly.”

Another TikTok user exposed her own beige flag — and it had to do with how she spent her money.

“My beige flag is that I literally cannot accept cash is money,” @lexil012 said on the platform.

“Cash is a coupon. Bought my coffee with cash? It was free. Got my nails done and ‘paid’ in cash? Also free.

“If I cannot see the dollar amount leave my bank account then no ‘money’ was spent.”

One man exposed his girlfriend’s sweet tooth. Picture: TikTok

But should you be ruling out potential partners because they set seven alarms before actually getting out of bed, asks the waiter for their recommendation at every restaurant or tickles you to get you to stop crying?

Dr Zoe Shaw, licensed psychotherapist, told Today it’s important to realise that nobody is perfect — you’re essentially looking for “deficits” you can deal with when finding a partner.

“I don’t think anybody should be ruled out because of the beige flag, because we are all quirky,” Dr Shaw said.

“Every single one of us are quirky in some way, shape or form and a beige flag is essentially a quirk.”