wait is "clings to" cringe now

thinking back i guess it really has fallen out of my "talking to people online" vocabulary, but it still feels surprising to see it lumped in the same category as unironically calling people senpai "sempai."
do people think it means "clinging to your leg like a child" rather than just being a shorthand for a "i am holding you close (i.e. hugging)" sentiment?
is this an "XD is cringe" thing?

sorry for the slight digression i'm just having a moment over here