Men are picking up 'attraction hobbies' to get dates. Does it work?

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Be honest: Have you ever tried a new hobby, thinking it might make you more attractive and, even, score you some dates?

If you answered yes, you're not alone. According to a recent survey of 2,000 millennials and Gen Z-ers, 16% admitted to picking up "attraction hobbies" - or, hobbies aimed to boost one's attractiveness. These hobbies can be anything: tennis, creative writing, pottery. Whatever you think will make you seem more appealing.

The survey - commissioned by the language learning platform Babbel in partnership with Talker Research - found the trend holds especially true for young men, with 22% saying they've engaged in this form of performative dating, about double the rate of women.

The survey's results back up a phenomenon that's been called out on TikTok, where videos parodying so-called "performative men" have gone viral. These are videos making fun of guys who go to great (and often cringe-worthy) lengths to signal how sensitive, intellectual and emotionally attuned they are - without actually being any of those things. Think of the guys who have perfect vision but still wear glasses, sport only vintage clothing and clutch a copy of a Joan Didion book wherever they go. Their lives are basically a near-constant performance, all curated to show others - especially women - how enlightened they are.

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