Thirst trap

A thirst trap is type of social media post that is intended to entice viewers sexually.[1][2] It refers to a user’s "thirst", a colloquialism that likens sexual frustration to dehydration, implying desperation.[2][3][4] Originating around the early 2010s, the meaning has changed over time.[5]

A shirtless man taking a bathroom selfie

History

Thirst trap culture was derived from selfie culture.[6]

The term thirst trap emerged on Twitter and Urban Dictionary in 2011, around the same time as the rise of Snapchat, Instagram, and online dating apps such as Tinder.[5] In 2011, it was defined by Urban Dictionary as "any statement used to intentionally create attention or 'thirst'."[7]

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.[5]

Usage of the term

Often, the term thirst trap is a description of when people post attractive pictures of themselves online.[8]

Thirst trap can also describe a digital heartthrob.[5] For instance, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has been described as a political thirst trap.[5][9]

It has also been described as a modern form of "fishing for compliments".[3]

Motivation

There can be several motivations behind thirst trapping.[10][11] People can seek "likes" and comments on social media which can provide a temporary boost in self-esteem and validation.[10] Posting a thirst trap can also be a way to express sexuality.[10] Thirst traps can contribute to personal branding as well.[11] Sometimes, there can be a financial benefit for sharing thirst traps.[11] Some post thirst traps as a way to cope with emotional distress, such as after a breakup.[12] Furthermore, these images can be used to spite a former lover.[13] Sharing a thirst trap has also been used as a way to connect in times of social isolation (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic).[14]

From a physiologic 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 alternative for physical sexual contact.[14]

Methodology
Topless female thirst trap

Methodologies have developed to take an optimal thirst trap photo.[15][16] 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.[11] 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).[7][10][17]

Often, the thirst trap is accompanied by a caption.[6][18] For instance, in October 2019, 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 [sic] thirst trap! Boom!"[18]

On Instagram, #ThirstTrapThursdays is a popular tag.[6] Followers reply in turn after a posting.[7]

Variations

"Gatsbying" is a variation of the thirst trap, where one puts posts on social media to attract the attention of a particular individual.[19][20] 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.[20] "Instagrandstanding" is an alternative name for this.[21]

"Wholesome trapping" has developed, where one posts pictures of more meaningful aspects of life, such as spending time with friends or doing outdoor activities.[22]

Criticisms

Some have criticized thirst traps as being an unhealthy method of receiving external validation.[7][23] This desire for external validation can be addictive.[23]

Thirst traps can cause pressure to maintain a good physical appearance, and therefore cause self-esteem issues.[10][23] Additionally, the thirst traps are often highly choreographed and thus present a distorted perception of reality.[10][23] The manufacturing of thirst traps can be limited when one enters a relationship and/or with time as the body ages.[24]

In some cases, thirst traps can lead to harassment and online bullying.[13][25] In April 2020, Chrissy Teigen posted a video of her wearing a black one-piece swimsuit, and she received a multitude of negative comments that constituted bullying and body shaming (e.g. "Narcissistic much? Cover up, you're not that hot.").[26][27][28]

Notability in culture

Numerous celebrities have been recognized for their thirst traps, notably Kim Kardashian, Amber Rose, and Rihanna.[7][10][16] The Jonas Brothers have also been noted for their thirst traps created over an extended duration.[10] Publications such as Buzzfeed and Vibe have created compilations of best celebrity thirst traps.[6]

Vine was also used as a platform to share thirst trap videos, used by the queer women community in particular.[29] Thirst traps are also prolific in the gay community.[23]

It has been argued that Instagram itself is a representation of a giant thirst trap.[7]

In 2018, Jeffree Star featured a shade of lipstick called "thirst trap".[6]

In 2019, Four Loko commissioned a study where 60,000 Instagram images from 50 U.S. cities and 10 international cities were analyzed to see the prevalence rate of thirst traps. Miami was found to have the highest prevalence rate in the United States, with 36 out of 1,000 photos being thirst traps.[30]

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, there has reportedly been an increase in the frequency and intensity of thirst traps.[14]

gollark: So you can do, say,```luarandomThingWhichDoesNotExist.potatoes = "return 4"randomThingWhichDoesNotExist.potatoes()anyOtherNilValue.potatoes()```
gollark: It interacts really well with the superglobals-on-nil thing.
gollark: PotatOS actually *has* that string thing.
gollark: Also, using better-known standards means you're more likely to have something actually secure.
gollark: It's not needed *that* often, but it can be really annoying if it's not possible.

References
  1. "Definition of thirst trap". www.dictionary.com. May 20, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.; "THIRST TRAP". definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary. Retrieved June 9, 2020.; Young, Sarah (December 20, 2016). "Ghosting, Benching and DTR: Here's what these 13 dating terms really mean". The Independent. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  2. "What is a thirst trap".
  3. Favilla, E.J. (2017). A World Without "Whom": The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-63286-759-9. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  4. "It's Easy to Be Called 'Thirsty' on Social Media. What About on Capitol Hill?". The New York Times. April 4, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  5. "'Thirst Trap' Enters The Lexicon". NPR.org. April 17, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  6. "What Does Thirst Trap Mean?". Dictionary.com. June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  7. Davis, Allison P. (March 13, 2015). "Quit Worrying and Embrace the Art of the Thirst Trap". The Cut. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  8. Feurey, M. (2019). Modern Slang Expressions. Practicus. p. 122. ISBN 978-89-6893-034-8. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  9. 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. Retrieved June 9, 2020.; "Justin Trudeau Had the Best Time at Toronto's Pride Parade". InStyle. June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  10. Suckling, Lee (March 8, 2018). "Lee Suckling: How to tell if you've been caught in a 'thirst trap'". NZ Herald. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  11. Isador, Graham (February 27, 2017). "We Asked People Why They Post Thirst Traps". Vice. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  12. Segel, Alison (October 27, 2017). "What's A Thirst Trap? This Selfie Trend Is All The Rage". Elite Daily. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  13. "The thirst is real with thirst trapping". triple j. November 21, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  14. Bergado, Gabe. "Everybody's Horny and Thirst Trapping Like There's No Tomorrow Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  15. "5 Tips For Taking The Perfect Thirst Trap That'll Make You Feel So, So Sexy". Elite Daily. November 30, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  16. Pugachevsky, Julia (August 27, 2019). "How to Take the Perfect Thirst Trap Photo - Everything to Know About Thirst Trapping". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved June 9, 2020.; Abrams, Margaret (November 14, 2018). "The 6 types of celebrity thirst trap". Evening Standard. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  17. Hirschlag, Allison (February 25, 2020). "How to Spot a Toxic Thirst Trap Before It Lures You In". Medium. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  18. Battle, Marquaysa; Cubria, Kaitlin (May 24, 2017). "20 Best Instagram Captions For Your Thirst Trap Photos". Elite Daily. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  19. Gollayan, Christian (June 21, 2018). "'Gatsbying' is the confusing new millennial dating trend". New York Post. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  20. "If You're Single, You're Probably Guilty Of 'Gatsbying' On Instagram". HuffPost. July 25, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  21. Still, Jennifer (March 5, 2019). "Instagrandstanding Is The New Thirst Trapping Trend You May Be Guilty Of". Bolde. Retrieved June 23, 2020.; tuskmagazine (September 16, 2019). "Single AF and Looking: 7 Dating Terms to Define Your Relationship". TUSK. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  22. Thomas, Helen Meriel (May 10, 2019). "Introducing 'Wholesome Trapping', the Thirst Trap's Cutesy Cousin". Vice. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  23. Kheraj, Alim. "How to Save Yourself from a Thirst Trap". GQ. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  24. "The True Meaning Of 'Thirst Trapping'". DMARGE. March 4, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  25. Safronova, Valeriya (December 21, 2017). "Instagram Is Now a Dating Platform, Too. Here's How It Works". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  26. Agate, Samantha (April 28, 2020). "Chrissy Teigen Defends Her 'Square Body' After Her 'Thirst Trap' Video Goes Viral". Talent Recap. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  27. 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. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  28. Amatulli, Jenna (April 27, 2020). "Chrissy Teigen Claps Back at Body-Shaming Trolls Calling Her 'SpongeBob'". HuffPost. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  29. Duguay, Stefanie (November 5, 2019). "Thirst Traps And #Relatable Vines: Investigating A Networked Counterpublic Of Queer Women". AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research. ISSN 2162-3317. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  30. LaVelle, Ciara (February 12, 2019). "Miami Is the Number One Thirst Trap City in America". Miami New Times. Retrieved June 10, 2020.; Ratliff, Shane. "The Thirstiest Cities in America". Four Loko. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
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