You have Heard of Inexperienced and Purple Flags…However What’s a Beige Flag?

Relating to relationship, particularly for the youthful era, there are some new phrases that may be fairly complicated. However speaking about beige flags or inexperienced flags shouldn’t be an excessive amount of trigger for concern—actually, it might be an encouraging signal that your teen is navigating their likes, dislikes, and bounds in a romantic relationship.

In actual fact, these additions to the teen slang dictionary would possibly assist everybody higher outline and articulate what they like about their romantic pursuits. Right here’s extra information about what “pink flags,” “inexperienced flags,” and “beige flags” imply, the place they got here from, and the way younger persons are utilizing these phrases as they discover relationship. 

What Is a Purple Flag?

A “pink flag” is the traditional warning signal, alerting you to hazard forward. In relationships, this sometimes signifies a deal-breaker of some kind, although the utilization of the phrase is break up. Whereas some individuals use pink flags to debate a romantic curiosity’s worrying or doubtlessly harmful conduct, others use it jokingly to precise a desire or bias.

In response to Dr. Tamara Soles, a baby psychologist and mother or father coach in Montreal, Canada, romantic “pink flags,” when the time period is used critically, can embody indicators {that a} relationship isn’t wholesome or secure.

“They usually present up as management, lack of respect, or emotional manipulation,” she says. “In adolescent and teenage relationships, these flags would possibly appear to be fixed check-ins, jealousy over friendships, or disrespecting boundaries—something that feels prefer it erodes one’s sense of self or security.

What Is a Inexperienced Flag?

Simply as inexperienced and pink imply reverse issues on a visitors mild, a “inexperienced flag” is the polar reverse of a pink one. Inexperienced flags point out a associate’s good attributes, comparable to their kindness or thoughtfulness. Whereas some individuals additionally use it jokingly to establish what they like about an individual’s top or occupation, for instance, others use it as a teachable second to mannequin how individuals can and may act.

Social media is a well-liked place not solely to debate pink flags and inexperienced flags, however to mannequin them, too. On TikTok, a creator named @dustinpoynter often stitches different individuals’s movies with footage of him operating in a discipline with large pink or inexperienced flags. The colour will depend on the conduct exhibited within the authentic video, and different customers often tag Dustin in TikToks they see, asking him to weigh in.

What Is a Beige Flag? 

A “beige flag,” in the meantime, is often neither good nor unhealthy. Most often, it simply…is. 

When younger individuals confer with “beige flags,” they’re sometimes discussing the impartial quirks that you simply study as you get to know somebody higher. If they are saying one thing that makes you double take earlier than shifting on—like they’ve by no means seen a Star Wars film or they put scorching sauce on ice cream—these habits may be a beige flag.

“In teen relationships, beige flags would possibly embody issues like a robust curiosity in a selected interest, a novel humorousness, and even habits like at all times forgetting to message again,” explains Soles. “These innocent quirks provide teenagers an opportunity to discover and replicate on what they recognize or choose in a buddy or associate.”

The Origin of Beige Flags

Whereas “pink flags” and “inexperienced flags” have been round for some time, and are additionally utilized in non-romantic settings, “beige flags” are a more moderen addition to the world of romance and relationship. 

In Could 2022, TikTok creator @itscaito posted a video breaking down what she views as “beige flags” on relationship apps. She outlined the time period as “indicators you’re in all probability very boring,” and included examples comparable to prompts that debate whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza or referencing mainstream sitcoms.

Simply because the lifecycle for a pattern on social media is reaching “blink and also you’ll miss it” territory, the that means of “beige flag” has additionally shifted. More and more, individuals make “beige flag” movies referring to their associate’s quirks—the issues that make them totally them.

Ought to Mother and father Be Fearful If They Hear Their Teenagers Speaking About Purple Flags? 

As a mother or father, it’s vital to create an open and secure house on your teen to speak about crushes and relationships. You may assist them establish patterns, and take motion if one thing is amiss. 

Some “pink flags” may be a teachable second. In case your teen remarks that an individual’s “pink flag” is that their household doesn’t have a lot cash, that’s an ideal alternative to speak about biases and judgment. 

However different behaviors or traits might be unhealthy or unsafe, and would possibly require you to take some motion. In case your teen’s associate calls for they unfollow friends of a sure gender on their social media accounts, for instance, that might be an indication of controlling conduct, and consultants suggest that oldsters step in.

How Can You Assist Your Teen Know the Distinction Between Purple, Inexperienced, and Beige Flags

In case your teen is simply starting their relationship journey, they may not know what colours the flags even are, so to talk. 

“Teen relationships are a coaching floor for understanding intimacy, respect, and private values,” says Soles. “By studying to establish pink, inexperienced, and even beige flags, teenagers develop the emotional consciousness and expertise wanted for wholesome grownup relationships.”

To assist your teen identify flags and perceive their emotions, Soles recommends fostering open communication, and dealing by emotions collectively.

“As an alternative of diving into problem-solving, attempt asking open-ended questions like, ‘How does that particular person make you are feeling?’ or ‘What do you want about them?’,” she says. “This retains the dialog open and permits teenagers to be taught relationship expertise by self-reflection.”