Is social media ruining proposals? Pressure to post engagement selfies is leaving men terrified to pop the question
According to jewellers, only half of men propose with a ring any more because they are "terrified" of getting it wrong
MEN are becoming increasingly anxious about proposing to their girlfriends thanks to the pressure of social media, with engagement rings a particular concern.
According to jewellers, only half of men even propose with a ring any more because they are "terrified" of getting it wrong - and having their mistake broadcast in an engagement selfie.
Panicked men have always feared that they'll fork out for the wrong ring but, in this age of over-sharing, the risk of being humiliated after making an engagement mistake is greater than ever.
As a result, fewer men are buying engagement rings on their own, and are forced to rely on help from their lucky ladies instead.
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This has led to a rise in men buying cheaper 'holding rings' for their engagement, which women can switch out for a ring of their choice at a later date.
Around half of men choose this over the riskier, but more romantic, option of choosing a ring themselves - something which is more likely to backfire when their girlfriends upload a celebratory engagement selfie.
Guy Burton, Director of Hancocks jewellers claimed the pressure of popping the question is starting to kill of the romantic tradition.
He said: "The romantic tradition of proposing ring-in-hand is diminishing, and the added pressures of living up to social expectations mean many men are terrified of making the wrong choice."
And Nicky Danino, social media expert at the University of Central Lancashire, said: "The art of selfie photography is reaching new levels and is reaching a state of narcissism.
"Couples now have even more reason now to get the perfect ring because they are posing pictures which will be permanently on the internet for all their friends to see.
"They want to show off to their friends and for their picture to be even more perfect than the last."
For many men, the way around this pressure involves bringing their partners along to the jewellers with them.
Andre Rennie, owner at Rennie & Co, a Hatton Garden jeweller, said: "We definitely see more couples buying engagement rings now than guys doing it on their own.
"There are also more men proposing with a nice-looking 'holding' ring which they can then swap later for a real one.
"Generally though when men do go the effort of picking a ring they are very rarely returned as girls appreciate the thought."