Dating seems bleak right now for Gen Z — if you watched the latest season of Love Island USA this summer, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. A new teen slang term shows just how toxic romance can be. It’s called “Shrekking,” and, yes, it’s related to the ugly green ogre Shrek.

People have been obsessed with Shrek since the character debuted in the first DreamWorks animated film in 2001. This time, though, people are referencing Shrek to refer to something a little toxic in the dating world. According to USA Today, “Shrekking” is when you “date down,” or when you “date someone you’re not attracted to in the hopes that this person will treat you better in return,” just like Princess Fiona did with Shrek.

It’s like thinking someone is out of your league in a negative way and goin

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