Why Thirst Traps Exist

For those of you unaware of what a "thirst trap" is, allow me to explain it through the lens of a beautiful peacock.

See, the peacock, like most wild animals, rely on flashy gimmicks or tricks to lure a female with the hopes of reproducing. For example, if a male peacock spots a fine-lookin' female, he will unleash his magnificent tail feathers and display a myriad of patterns and colors to attract this female.

Now, instead of a peacock unveiling his wonderful tail feathers, a "thirst trap" would be someone posting a half-naked picture of themselves on social media to attract a sexual partner. Much like the peacock, we are driven by a strong sexual force to create these "thirst traps" to procreate and sustain the lifespan of the species. However, its not like humankind is on the brink of extinction, right? So, why do we still feel the urge to post these half-naked pictures of ourselves like we are peacocks in the wild?

Well, the way I see it, there's 3 driving forces.

First, most humans are naturally wired to try and secure a mate for sexual reproduction, much like our peacock. It's a very important natural instinct that's been coded in our genes to ensure the progression of humankind.

Second, our environment has created a highly sexually-charged society that feeds on a cyclical pattern of sexual desire and modern narcissism. With a vast influx and accessibility of pornography and a variety of media outlets that allow users to post seductive photos, our society has truly blossomed into a sex-driven environment. The saying "sex sells" isn't just part of an American business strategy but now it has morphed into our everyday lives as we scroll through thirst traps and pictures of food (which have somehow become sexy too).

And third, we are in the middle of global pandemic. COVID-19 has forced folks who desire human connection to remain distant and alone. With people anxious and unable to truly connect with one another, we revert to our primordial instincts of thinking like a peacock and post that half-naked picture displaying all our tail feathers.

So, if you're feeling alone and desire that human connection (like most of us), just post a damn thirst trap and be honest with yourself about why you're doing it.