Boyfriend wanted, apply within.
Gen Z romantic hopefuls are dumping the dating apps and moving the search for a partner to a very public forum — their social media accounts.
“So I just wanna let everybody know that in 2025 I will be accepting boyfriend applications. Yes, very exciting,” Anise Armstrong — @anisesarchive — proclaimed in a now-viral video boldly clarifying that “no uglies, no uneducated” need apply.
The sound bite quickly went viral and has now been used by hundreds of other single TikTokkers announcing their eagerness and requirements for a partner.
In a follow-up video, Armstrong updated the list with the most common additions people added in her comments also forbidding broke people, people with children, Trump supporters, nonchalant or emotionally unavailable men and short kings.
“Lover boys only,” she declared. “Be obsessed with me or be gone.”
The group consensus also added “interesting men only” and noted that her man must support her financially.
Meanwhile, others have shared more simplified requirements.
“Is it too early to ask for applications for a winter boyfriend? Winter Wonderland? Matching pjs? Baking together?” TikTokker Molly Mae — @mollymaybrissettx — captioned a video.
“POV: looking for a gf to spend these ice cold cozy winter days with and cuddle the hell out of her,” Amber Charlotte — @ofc.amber — captioned a video of herself in a crowd holding a sign that says “I’m gay.”
This isn’t the first time desperate singles have posted about their look for love.
A paralyzed college student went viral in 2022 when he posted a “boyfriend application video” and an influencer attracted a lot of attention when she allegedly rejected 5,000 men who applied to date her, however, the online option seems to be growing in popularity as this new year kicks off.
Some are even using it to find a significant other for their loved ones.
TikTokker @kell.mel jumped on the trend to advertise her YouTuber brother, Christopher Michael Dixon — known online as ChrisMD.
“Taking girlfriend applications for my brother (I’m bored of being the only girl at Dixon Family Christmas)” she captioned her video. “To apply please comment which Taylor Swift song you think best fits each member of the fellowship.”
She noted that her beloved brother can cook, clean, play video games and knows all the words to Taylor Swift’s 10-minute version of “All Too Well.”
Another helpful sister — @myracle.worker — also posted an advertisement for her brother on TikTok.
“Someone wife up my twin brother. He’s bought CDs for all his long-distance best friends, choosing ones he thinks best represent them or are tied to share memories and is attaching handwritten letters in the liner notes,” she shared.
While it’s still too early into the year to see if any of these videos have led to love, the comment sections seem hopeful being filled with people recommending themselves or volunteering singles they know.
As the masses have officially declared that dating apps are dead, singles are becoming increasingly creative on the hunt for their honey.
That includes attending celebrity look-alike contests for their celebrity crush, using AI to attract the partner of their dreams, and even renting billboards to advertise themselves.
