In today’s dating culture, where everyone is either soft launching, situationshipping, or pretending they don’t care…it almost feels controversial to say you have a boyfriend. Thanks to a recent Vogue article making its rounds, Amelia and Lilly dive into the very real (and very funny) question:
Is having a boyfriend… embarrassing now?
This episode unpacks the weird social pressure young women feel in their 20s: wanting connection, craving independence, and also low-key worrying that posting your boyfriend will ruin your mysterious internet aura.
The hosts break down the cultural shift they’re seeing everywhere: independence is trending, relationships are treated like an aesthetic choice, and the internet has definitely influenced how we feel about commitment.
The Real Takeaway
This Vogue debate isn’t really about boyfriends — it’s about how much pressure we put on ourselves in our 20s to look a certain way, date a certain way, or be single a certain way. The goal?
Do whatever feels right for your life, not your feed.
Takeaways
- Relationship culture has changed — independence is trendy, and commitment gets weirdly judged.
- Social media shapes how we think our love lives “should” look.
- Whether you’re single, cuffed, or somewhere in-between, your identity doesn’t disappear.
- Being in a relationship isn’t embarrassing — pretending you don’t want connection might be.
Related Episodes:
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This podcast is powered by Millennium Counseling Center in Chicago, IL. To learn more visit:
millenniumhope.comWhat is Dating in Your 20s?
Hosted by Amelia and Lilly, two licensed therapists based in Chicago, Illinois, Dating in Your 20s dives into the chaos, comedy, and complexity of modern dating — all through a therapeutic lens. As two women in their 20s, Amelia and Lilly are in the trenches themselves, navigating everything from bad Hinge dates and ghosting to social media comparison and the pressure of modern relationships.
With a mix of humor, honesty, and clinical insight, each episode blends real-life dating experiences with psychological frameworks like attachment theory, emotional regulation, communication styles, and more. Whether you're healing from heartbreak, stuck in a situationship, or just wondering why dating feels so complicated right now, Amelia and Lilly are here to help you feel a little less alone — and a lot more understood.