India, Nov. 1 -- If anyone ever sees a man on my story, it's a paid post: this cheeky line under British writer Chante Joseph's Instagram post with 24.8k forwards sums up Gen Z's overall mood. Over the past few weeks, jokes about women being 'embarrassed to have a boyfriend' have evolved into a full-blown cultural moment.

The trend allegedly began with singer-songwriter Lily Allen's latest studio album, West End Girl. Detailing her split from actor David Harbour, the record's unapologetic tone has inspired what fans are calling the "Lily Allen winter": a season of self-focus, friendship, and freedom from performative coupledom.

Joseph's post was flooded with comments from women saying they no longer post their partners online. Some want...