Get your pens and notebooks out, gals, there's a brand new dating trend term to add to the arsenal.
Ok, so we already know all about submarining, bread-crumbing, getting 'zombied' or 'vultured' and even getting stuck in the dreaded 'Ben stage', but there's a much more light-hearted and fun dating trend making waves on social media at the mo known as 'banana theory'.
And to help shed some light on the new trend taking singletons by storm, a relationship expert has explained exactly why so many women are obsessed with the new 'banana theory' dating trend.
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Dating coach, Hayley Quinn, sat down with Tyla and dished on everything we need to know about it and just how we can put it into practice ourselves.
What is the 'banana theory' dating trend?
Hayley tells Tyla: "Banana theory is the simple dating habit that means you turn your bananas up, and position them prominently in your supermarket trolley, to show other people that you're single."
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Oh, simple enough, that.
She explains that it's trending right now as 'dating app-fatigued singles' are looking for more 'time-efficient' ways to meet other singles offline.
"So if you need to go to the supermarket anyway, why not signal that you're single in the process," she suggests.
What are the pros and cons of trying out the 'banana theory'?
Now, being successful at dating often comes down to being open-minded and willing to explore new ways of meeting people, Hayley says.
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"Whilst turning your bananas curve side up in your shopping trolley may sound simple on paper; the reality will, however, be more complicated!" she warns.
First of all, you need everyone else to know about the banana theory trend, 'otherwise the way someone's bananas are facing may be telling you more about how good they are at packing their food, rather than if they're single or not'.
Good point.
Secondly, even if someone is single and aware of the banana theory trend, 'you still will want to get to know them before you decide if you'd like to date them'.
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Hayley adds: "So whilst you know they're single, you will still have to figure out your compatibility."
And, thirdly, even if you're both single, there's 'absolutely no guarantee you'll both be attracted to one another'.
How is 'banana theory' different from other dating trends?
The popularity of the 'banana theory' trend simply shows that today's singles are 'getting creative' and thinking about new ways to meet one another in real life.
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"Gen Z are notoriously more sober than previous generations, meaning that meeting in the supermarket may also align better with their lifestyle choices than meeting in a bar," Hayley points out.
Why do you think so many women are becoming obsessed with the 'banana theory' trend?
Hayley explains that women want 'more high-quality dating options'.
"It's also reminiscent of a romantic movie to think you'll meet your future partner in a supermarket, rather than online," she adds.
Ah yes, the infamous 'meet-cute' fantasy.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to try out the 'banana theory' trend?
If you're interested in banana theory, what you really want to explore is how you meet more people in real life; and that doesn't have to be confined to the supermarket!
Hayley suggests: "To start with, look for opportunities in your everyday lifestyle to meet someone.
"Could you swap in that pilates class for Crossfit, to stand a better chance of meeting a hot guy?
"I'd also really encourage women to become more conscious of the signals that they're sending out."
She continues: "When you see someone you're attracted to, it can become second nature to look at your feet, however, this sends exactly the wrong signal to them about whether you'd like to talk to them!"
You can also try out 'simple lifestyle changes' like arriving 20 minutes before you meet your friends, to have more time solo.
Also, Hayley notes, taking your headphones out can also be 'surprisingly effective' at encouraging more men to talk to you.
The dating coach runs dating event for women called Secret Place where she 'takes women out into the real world' to learn how to meet people in real life.
"If you're finding your dating app matches have dried up, or you want a confidence boost to your dating life, there's few things more empowering than learning to meet men IRL," she concludes.
"Just don't stop at banana theory, make it part of a wider lifestyle choice in your dating life!"
Topics: Life, Sex and Relationships, Dating
Rhiannon Ingle