According to TikTok, you should have had your first relationship before this age

I actually like a lot of TikTok trends, and sometimes I pick up a thing or two here and there. For example, when it comes to beauty or food hacks: super handy. However, I now see something going viral that I completely disagree with.

Especially because it is presented as something that is scientifically proven, but no one provides sources or evidence for it, and after thorough searches online, I can't find anything. Not a single study shows that this is even slightly true. And that is the dangerous thing about social media: things can be taken so thoughtlessly that no one seems to think about whether it makes sense.

What I now see a lot on my For You Page: girls who are almost 22 and say that research has shown that if you haven't had a serious relationship by that age, there is an 85 percent chance that you will still be single at 40. This is supposedly researched by Harvard. Spoiler alert: this has not been researched by Harvard.

In fact, there is absolutely nothing to be found that would suggest this is based on anything. Not from Harvard, not from any scientist. Now I see all sorts of TikToks from people who are panicking because they are almost 22 and have never had a relationship.

So if you've seen this too and are now very anxious about your love life: no stress. Whether or not you've had a serious relationship before your 22nd says exactly nothing about your relationship status at 40, and certainly not 85 percent. So don't worry about that and live your life, have fun, or go look for that serious relationship; just do what feels good for you, because your 40-year-old self will be much more grateful for that later.

@braden_wellmanhappy valentines day 💗♬ original sound – Braden Wellman