Woman, 30, Was 'Ashamed' About Relationship Status—Until She Went Online

A woman is building an online community of people defying traditional relationship timelines.

In a viral TikTok video posted by Allie Duff (@alliejeanduffff), Duff explained her emotional experience being a 30-year-old woman who lives at home with her parents, and who has never had a boyfriend. Speaking to the camera while she applies her makeup, Duff emphasized how helpful it's been to find a community of others in the same situation online. Her video went viral, receiving 6.6 million views, 618,000 likes and over 7,000 comments from likeminded others.

"I truly thought I was one of the only people that was like this," Duff said in the video. "It was something I used to feel so ashamed about, and so embarrassed, that I didn't really want to be around other people...but I've come to learn that I'm not the only person who feels this way."

Duff said that she feared being around others and wanted to avoid questions about where she lived and what she was doing. Her living and dating situation, combined with a lifelong feeling of isolation, turned her inwards, she said.

"I've always been someone that felt super isolated and alone in my life. Even from a young age, I just always felt like I could never speak what was going on in my mind," she said. "I was so afraid of what people would think of me—so, I became super shy and just super isolated."

Viewers in the comments—some in similar situations—provided words of support and empathy. Others who did follow the traditional timeline for moving out and finding love even expressed wishes that they had done differently.

"Savings [plus] no heartbreak [equals] a win," @bianca.cassandre wrote.

"I'm 42 and I've never had a boyfriend. Also living at home. You aren't alone," @ggdw1981 said.

"I have a fear of ending up alone," @shelbsart500 wrote. "But after being in a toxic relationship where I wasted three years of my life, I'd rather spend that life alone."

"I'm a 30-year-old who has been married and moved out at 18," @emiliziem wrote. "I would give anything to have stayed home and single. You're living my dream."

Duff, who frequently makes content about her living and dating situation, emphasized the importance of finding a likeminded community online. "Thanks for reminding me I am not the only one! I love connecting with you all," she captioned her video.

"Over the years, I'm learning that I can navigate my emotions better, my thoughts better," she said. "I just love learning that I am not alone in my journey, and neither are you."