A shirtless man in a sexually suggestive pose taking a bathroom selfie

A thirst trap is a type of social media post intended to entice viewers sexually.[1][2][3][4] It refers to a viewer's "thirst", a colloquialism likening sexual frustration to dehydration, implying desperation, with the afflicted individual being described as "thirsty".[4][5][6] The phrase entered into the lexicon in the late 1990s, but is most related to Internet slang that developed in the early 2010s. Its meaning has changed over time, previously referring to a graceless need for approval, affection or attention.[7][6] A thirsty comment is usually a comment that wants the sexual attention of someone.

History

The usage of the phrase thirst trap derived from selfie culture.[8] Though its origin is ambiguous, thirst trap was used in the 1999 book, Running for Dummies authored by Florence Griffith Joyner and John Hanc.

The authors defined a body's need for hydration prior to the onset of thirst and the false sense that the immediate thirst was quenched with the first intake of fluid. To avoid the thirst trap, the authors suggested further intake of fluids even though the body's "thirsty message" had been sated.[9]

The term thirst trap re-emerged on Twitter and Urban Dictionary in 2011, and throughout the years with the rise of Snapchat, Instagram, and online dating apps such as Tinder.[7] In 2011, it was defined by Urban Dictionary as "any statement used to intentionally create attention or 'thirst'."[10]

In 2018, it was reported to have entered common usage, as media sources including The New York Times and GQ started using the expression without definition.[7]

Usage of the term

Often, the term thirst trap describes an attractive picture of an individual that they post online.[11]

Thirst trap can also describe a digital heartthrob.[7] For instance, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has been described as a political thirst trap.[7][12][13]

It has also been described as a modern form of "fishing for compliments".[5]

Motivation

There can be several motivations behind thirst trapping.[14][15] People can seek "likes" and comments on social media which can provide a temporary boost in self-esteem and validation.[14] Posting a thirst trap can also be a way to express sexuality.[14] Thirst traps can contribute to personal branding as well.[15] Sometimes, there can be a financial benefit for sharing thirst traps.[15] Some post thirst traps as a way to cope with emotional distress, such as after a breakup.[16] Furthermore, these images can be used to spite a former lover.[17] Sharing a thirst trap has also been used as a way to connect in times of social isolation (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic).[18]

From a physiological standpoint, endorphins and neurotransmitters like oxytocin and dopamine can be released with the process of sharing thirst traps, leading to a sense of pleasure and an ambiguous or masturbatory alternative for actual physical sexual contact.[18]

Methodology

Methodologies have developed to take an optimal thirst trap photo.[19][20][21] Reporting for Vice magazine, Graham Isador found several of his social network contacts spent a lot of time considering how to take the best photo and what text they should use. They considered angles and lighting. Sometimes they made use of the self-timer feature available on some cameras.[15] Often, body parts are put on display without being too explicit (e.g. bulges of male genitalia, breast cleavage, abdominal muscles, pectoral muscles, backs, buttocks).[10][14][22]

Often, the thirst trap is accompanied by a caption.[8][23] For instance, in October 2019, actress Tracee Ellis Ross posted bikini pictures on Instagram with a caption that included the message: "I've worked so hard to feel good in my skin and to build a life that truly matches me and I'm in it and it feels good. ... No filter, no retouch 47 year old thirst trap! Boom!"[23]

On Instagram, #ThirstTrapThursdays is a popular tag.[8] Followers reply in turn after a posting.[10]

Variations

"Gatsbying" is a variation of the thirst trap, where one puts posts on social media to attract the attention of a particular individual.[24][25] The term alludes to the novel The Great Gatsby where the character Jay Gatsby would throw extravagant parties to attract the attention of his love interest, Daisy.[25] "Instagrandstanding" is an alternative name for this.[26][27]

"Wholesome trapping" has developed, where one posts pictures of more meaningful aspects of life, such as spending time with friends or doing outdoor activities.[28]

Criticism

Psychotherapist Lisa Brateman has criticized thirst traps as being an unhealthy method of receiving external validation.[10][29] This desire for external validation can be addictive.[29]

Thirst traps can cause pressure to maintain a good physical appearance, and therefore cause self-esteem issues.[14][29] Additionally, thirst traps are often highly choreographed and thus present a distorted perception of reality.[14][29] The manufacturing of thirst traps can be limited when one enters a relationship or with time as the body ages.[30]

In some cases, thirst traps can lead to harassment and online bullying.[17][31] In April 2020, model Chrissy Teigen posted a video of herself wearing a black one-piece swimsuit, and she received a multitude of negative comments that constituted bullying and body shaming.[32][33]

See also

Look up thirst trap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. ↑ "thirst trap". Dictionary.com. May 20, 2020. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  2. ↑ "thirst trap". Cambridge English Dictionary. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  3. ↑ Young, Sarah (December 20, 2016). "Ghosting, Benching and DTR: Here's what these 13 dating terms really mean". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "What is a thirst trap". Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Favilla, E. J. (2017). A World Without 'Whom': The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age. Bloomsbury. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-63286-759-9. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  6. 1 2 "It's Easy to Be Called 'Thirsty' on Social Media. What About on Capitol Hill?". The New York Times. April 4, 2017. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "'Thirst Trap' Enters The Lexicon". NPR. April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "What Does Thirst Trap Mean?". Dictionary.com. June 6, 2018. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  9. ↑ Joyner, F.J.; Harc, J. (1999). Running for Dummies, Foster City, CA: IDG Books, p. 39.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Davis, Allison P. (March 13, 2015). "Quit Worrying and Embrace the Art of the Thirst Trap". The Cut. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  11. ↑ Feurey, M. (2019). Modern Slang Expressions. Practicus. p. 122. ISBN 978-89-6893-034-8. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ Taras, D.; Davis, R. (2019). Power Shift? Political Leadership and Social Media: Case Studies in Political Communication. Taylor & Francis. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-429-88032-2. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Justin Trudeau Had the Best Time at Toronto's Pride Parade". InStyle. June 26, 2017. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Suckling, Lee (March 8, 2018). "Lee Suckling: How to tell if you've been caught in a 'thirst trap'". NZ Herald. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Isador, Graham (February 27, 2017). "We Asked People Why They Post Thirst Traps". Vice. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  16. ↑ Segel, Alison (October 27, 2017). "What's A Thirst Trap? This Selfie Trend Is All The Rage". Elite Daily. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  17. 1 2 "The thirst is real with thirst trapping". triple j. Australia: ABC. November 21, 2017. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  18. 1 2 Bergado, Gabe (April 3, 2020). "Everybody's Horny and Thirst Trapping Like There's No Tomorrow Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  19. ↑ "5 Tips For Taking The Perfect Thirst Trap That'll Make You Feel So, So Sexy". Elite Daily. November 30, 2017. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  20. ↑ Pugachevsky, Julia (August 27, 2019). "How to Take the Perfect Thirst Trap Photo – Everything to Know About Thirst Trapping". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  21. ↑ Abrams, Margaret (November 14, 2018). "The 6 types of celebrity thirst trap". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  22. ↑ Hirschlag, Allison (February 25, 2020). "How to Spot a Toxic Thirst Trap Before It Lures You In". Medium. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  23. 1 2 Battle, Marquaysa; Cubria, Kaitlin (May 24, 2017). "20 Best Instagram Captions For Your Thirst Trap Photos". Elite Daily. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  24. ↑ Gollayan, Christian (June 21, 2018). "'Gatsbying' is the confusing new millennial dating trend". New York Post. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  25. 1 2 Wong, Brittany (July 25, 2018). "If You're Single, You're Probably Guilty Of 'Gatsbying' On Instagram". HuffPost. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  26. ↑ Still, Jennifer (March 5, 2019). "Instagrandstanding Is The New Thirst Trapping Trend You May Be Guilty Of". Bolde. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Single AF and Looking: 7 Dating Terms to Define Your Relationship". TUSK. September 16, 2019. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  28. ↑ Thomas, Helen Meriel (May 10, 2019). "Introducing 'Wholesome Trapping', the Thirst Trap's Cutesy Cousin". Vice. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Kheraj, Alim (December 28, 2017). "How to Save Yourself from a Thirst Trap". GQ. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  30. ↑ "The True Meaning Of 'Thirst Trapping'". DMARGE. March 4, 2019. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  31. ↑ Safronova, Valeriya (December 21, 2017). "Instagram Is Now a Dating Platform, Too. Here's How It Works". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  32. ↑ Torres, Krista (April 27, 2020). "Chrissy Teigen Shared A Video Of Her Body, Got Shamed for Having a 'Square' Shape, and Is Now Talking About How Society Has Conditioned Us to Like 'Surgically-Enhanced Curves'". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  33. ↑ Amatulli, Jenna (April 27, 2020). "Chrissy Teigen Claps Back at Body-Shaming Trolls Calling Her 'SpongeBob'". HuffPost. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
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