How The ‘Snowmanning’ Dating Trend Could Bring Sexual Health Risks

If you find a new sexual partner this Winter Holiday season, take appropriate precautions. Beware of getting snowed by someone participating in the “snowmanning” dating trend. Otherwise, you may be left feeling out in the cold or, worse yet, left with something that you definitely don’t want: a sexually transmitted infection.

The Definition Of ‘Snowmanning’

Now, “snowmanning” is not about hooking up with a real snowman or sporting a corncob pipe and a broomstick in your hand while in the bedroom with someone. Instead, “snowmanning” is when someone new quickly gets all hot and heavy with you during the Winter season only to have all of his or her interest suddenly melt away soon thereafter. In the extreme case, you could go from hardly knowing a person to roasting chestnuts on the open fire with him or her, so to speak, to then getting the frosty treatment, all within the course of 24 hours. In fact, “snowmanning” could lead to the other person completely disappearing as in ghosting or even “cloaking” you.

Casual Sex May Increase During The Winter Holiday Season

Folks at eHarmony first popularized this not-so-harmonious term back in 2019. This was based in part on a casual observation: that people may be more likely to engage in casual sex during the Winter Holiday season. That observation has been supported by results from the Hometown Holiday Hook-Up Survey conducted by Everlywell, a health-testing company based in Austin, Texas. You could say that this survey of 850 singles, ranging from 18 to 44 years of age caught the eyes of the casual viewer. Nearly 60% of the respondents indicated that they plan to have casual sex when home for the holidays this year, and 43% reported having more casual sex when home for the Holidays than the rest of the year.

There are a number of reasons why casual sex encounters may increase during the Winter Holidays:

• The cold weather: You know how that Winter Wonderland song goes, “Later on we’ll conspire as we dream by the fire.” Well, cuddling for warmth can lead to other stuff.
• The Holidays can be stressful: I’ve covered for Forbes previously the different ways that the Holiday Season can be stressful. Being up in arms against your family members, the year -end crunch in your job or shopping pressures can send you running into the arms of someone else.
• The Holidays can be a lonely time: There are plenty of Holiday songs about loneliness, ranging from Christmas is the Saddest Day of the Year to Blue Christmas. And having a relationship going into the Holiday season doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be lonely or even still in a relationship due to the whole “Scrooging” trend that I’ve described.
• Being in a different location: Traveling for the Holidays may put you temporarily in a different less familiar location, which you may leave you feeling a bit alienated but also at the same time among new people in a place where may feel you have less accountability.
• Alcohol: Guess what? Holidays parties can have lots of alcohol. And we’re not talking about rubbing alcohol. Here’s another surprise, alcohol can lower inhibition and impair judgement.
• Holiday celebrations: Yes, the parties themselves can bring new people together in different configurations, especially if you are playing something like Twister.

The Emotional Risks of Snowmanning

Casual sex may be perfectly fine if all parties know the deal and have matched shared expectations. Problems arise when one side is expecting more than the other. For example, if you think you’ve met someone potentially for the long haul but to that person you are nothing but a truck stop, there could be emotional fallout on your part, ranging from disappointment to may be even anxiety or depression. After all, happiness can equal reality minus expectations.

The Physical Risks of Snowmanning

Besides your head and your heart, “snowmanning” could put other parts of your body at risk, including the body parts that got you in trouble in the first place: your genitals. Casual sex can put you at greater risk for a range of different sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, viral hepatitis, herpes, HIV and human papillomavirus. You can also find yourself in physical danger if the other person is prone to violence or different types of risky behavior.

Take The Proper Precautions

So, even if you are down with someone who may say, “Let’s run and we’ll have some fun now, before I melt away,” you may want to take the following precautions before having any kind of casual sex and opening yourself up to snowmanning:

• Get to know the person and his or her history as much as possible first: Knowing the other person’s real name will certainly help. For example, you want to know what name to shout should there be a reason to shout out a name.

• It’s important to have more information: Knowing a person’s background and sexual risk history is crucial before engaging in any intimate activities.
• Set clear expectations: Have open conversations about your desires and boundaries to ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Think before you act: Consider the potential consequences of your actions and whether the momentary pleasure is worth the risks involved.
• Use barrier protection like condoms: Contraceptive methods that don’t provide a physical barrier won’t protect against STIs, so always use condoms.
• Share STI test results: Don’t rely on appearances to determine STI status; always get tested to be sure.
• Inform friends about your whereabouts: It’s important to have someone aware of your location in case anything goes wrong during a rendezvous.

Lastly, keep the bigger picture in mind and avoid putting yourself at unnecessary risk for the sake of temporary satisfaction. Stay clear-headed and make wise decisions, especially during the Holiday season when temptations may be high. Don’t let alcohol or other substances cloud your judgment; always have friends around for support. This way, you can ensure that your holiday activities are enjoyable and safe.