© Getty Images

TikTok trend -

If you have been on TikTok lately, you may have noticed people referring to the "girlfriend effect." As one of the biggest trends of 2024, the phenomenon seems to be mentioned everywhere.

© Shutterstock

Defining the term -

For those wondering what the term means, it is the theory that men become more attractive after getting into a relationship with a woman.

© Shutterstock

What it's about -

Most of the time this supposed ‘glowup’ is about improved fashion sense, but it may also be about better skincare or improved muscle tone.

© Shutterstock

The reality -

The girlfriend effect is, of course, a social media trend, and there is nothing to say that all men who enter a relationship with a woman will become more attractive.

© Shutterstock

Potential merit -

However, there might be something to be said for the theory that has taken TikTok by storm. Let's take a look at how the trend first came about.

© Shutterstock

The "boyfriend air" phenomenon -

Cast your mind back to 2023, and you may remember a TikTok trend called the "boyfriend air" phenomenon.

© Getty Images

How it worked -

This was essentially about women commenting that they felt less attractive than normal after spending time hanging out with their boyfriends.

© Shutterstock

Causing a stir -

In response, people started commenting that the opposite appears to be true for men, many of whom seem more attractive after hanging out with their girlfriends.

© Shutterstock

The girlfriend effect was born -

Slowly, videos started to pop up that supposedly ‘proved’ the girlfriend effect theory. In the videos, women would show before and after pictures of their boyfriends to demonstrate their glowup.

© Shutterstock

Other names -

Because of the connection with the boyfriend air theory, the girlfriend effect is often also referred to as the "girlfriend air" theory.

© Shutterstock

The trend in action -

So how does the girlfriend effect actually manifest itself on TikTok? What do all these posts actually look like?

© Getty Images

Before and after -

Most of the time, as mentioned above, posts that refer to this phenomenon will show two pictures of the same man. One is taken before the start of the relationship, and one is taken after.

© Getty Images

Marked improvement -

Usually, the photos are chosen to show a marked improvement in the guy’s confidence, sense of personal style, and level of overall attractiveness.

© Shutterstock

Who is posting? -

Sometimes, men themselves participate in the trend and post the pictures themselves. Other times it is their girlfriends who share the content.

© Shutterstock

Could it be real? -

With TikTok users referring to the girlfriend effect left, right, and center, many people are wondering whether it may actually be real.

© Shutterstock

Arguments in favor -

Of course, it would be easy to dismiss the phenomenon as a fleeting social media trend. However, there are some arguments to suggest the theory has some merit.

© Shutterstock

Wanting to be attractive -

On the one hand, when two people get into a relationship, it is natural for both parties to want to appear attractive to one another.

© Shutterstock

Paying more attention -

As a result, a man with a new girlfriend may well pay close attention to any comments or opinions she might have about the way he dresses.

© Shutterstock

Relationships over time -

Furthermore, there is research to suggest that two people in a couple will tend to become more like one another over time.

© Shutterstock

Aligning interests -

If a man who previously wasn’t interested in his appearance starts dating someone who is, he may gradually start to take more of an interest in how he looks.

© Shutterstock

Criticisms -

As with so many TikTok trends, there are many criticisms that have been leveled against the girlfriend effect as a phenomenon.

© Shutterstock

Abandoning individual taste -

On the one hand, critics have pointed out that many of the posts about this show men abandoning their individual style to fit a more generic look.

© Shutterstock

Stifling self-expression -

This has raised questions about whether they have been encouraged to stifle their individuality and/or limit their own freedom of self-expression.

© Shutterstock

Question of control -

By extension, other critics have suggested that these kinds of posts make it acceptable for women to change or control what their partners wear to fit their own aesthetic.

© Shutterstock

Questions of morality -

This raises some fairly serious questions about whether it is morally acceptable to try and change a partner.

© Shutterstock 

The role of trends -

Another criticism leveled against the girlfriend effect is that the pictures simply show changing fashion trends, rather than any ‘improvement’ in the man’s style.

© Shutterstock 

Important consideration -

The idea is that, often, the clothes that the man is wearing in the "before" picture were in fact in style when the picture was taken but have subsequently gone out of style.

© Shutterstock 

Age as an important factor -

Critics have also suggested that the overall air of confidence in the "after" picture could be due to age or other factors, rather than it all being a result of being in a relationship.

Sources: (NBC News)

See also: How endless scrolling through social media can make you sick (literally)

© Shutterstock