Thirst trap

[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".

[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.

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 and Grindr.

"[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.