What Are Green Flags?
Green flags are positive signs in a person's behavior that indicate they're healthy, emotionally mature, and worth pursuing. They're the opposite of red flags — instead of warning you to run, green flags tell you "hey, this person might actually be good for you."
Think: good communication, respecting boundaries, being kind to service workers, remembering things you mentioned in passing. The bar may be on the floor, but green flags still manage to clear it beautifully.
Where Did Green Flags Come From?
Green flags emerged as a natural counterpart to the red flags conversation. After the internet spent 2021-2022 obsessively cataloging red flags, people started asking: okay, but what should we be looking FOR? What are the good signs?
The green flag discourse took off on TikTok and Twitter, with people sharing traits and behaviors they've learned to value. It was a refreshing shift from pure negativity to actually talking about what healthy relationships look like.
How to Use Green Flags
- Appreciating: "He asked me how my therapy session went. Green flag. 💚"
- Listing: "Green flags: they remember your coffee order, they're nice to animals, they don't keep score."
- Encouraging: "Stop chasing red flags and start recognizing green ones."
Examples in the Wild
"biggest green flag is someone who apologizes without you having to ask them to"
"he said 'that reminds me of something you said last week' and I have never felt more seen. GREEN FLAG."
Why It Matters
Green flags matter because dating culture has become SO focused on what to avoid that we sometimes forget what to look for. Knowing your green flags helps you make intentional choices instead of just running from red ones. It shifts the framework from fear-based to value-based dating. Know what you want, bestie. You deserve someone with green flags all over the place.