Thanks to Facebook we are provided with a platform to update a status describing the details of our every waking moment, post pictures from that weekend in Vegas that we promised to never speak of, find that long lost crush from middle school and of course, share with all 800 million users the status of
our relationship.
With all of the ways Facebook has revolutionized communication, it comes as zero surprise that Facebook has revolutionized the rules of dating as well. So that you don’t have to change your relationship status to “single,” be sure to check out some of the ways that the world’s most popular social networking site can ravage your relationship and how you can avoid it:
Defining/not defining the relationship. Even if you have been in an exclusive relationship for seven years, for many Facebook subscribers, nothing is truly official until “in a relationship (insert hear icon)” is posted on your profile and mini-feeds for all to “like.” Unless you want a status of “it’s complicated” be sure that you discuss defining your relationship on and off Facebook to make sure you and your partner are on the same page—NEVER change your Facebook relationship status without talking about it first.
Stalking. Everyone does it—and they’re lying if they say they don’t. But if you let it get out of hand, there is the possibility that a little innocent Facebook stalking can turn into a raging jealous obsession with the potential to derail your entire relationship. Do you log onto your Facebook account and before checking your own notifications or messages you head straight to your partner’s profile to make sure that they haven’t friended anyone new of the opposite sex and that no one of the opposite sex has posted on their wall? Do you perform this sick routine on an average of 19 times per day? Well, if so—you might have more than just a light stalking problem. As hard as it can be to keep cool when jealous and obsessive feelings are consuming you, step away from the laptop, continue breathing and be confident in your relationship.
Oversharing. Okay, the whole idea of Facebook is to share and connect with friends, right? However, there comes a point when posting an album complete with 121 pictures of you and your lover in the same kissy-poses becomes too much. Keep the PDA to a minimum if you don’t want your friends to unfriend/block you. Also too much? Composing status updates pertaining to each and every little argument that you and your partner have. This will do nothing but draw negative attention and comments to your relationship. There’s a place for expressing such emotion—and that would be in a
diary—NOT on Facebook.
Exchanging/hacking passwords. If you wish to maintain a healthy, happy relationship on and off Facebook, do not, REPEAT, DO NOT exchange passwords or deceitfully hack into the Facebook account of your better half. Engaging in this bad habit will do nothing but leave you miserably analyzing every friend request, invite or message that they received from an ex back in 2005. Why put yourself through such trauma? Trust is an essential ingredient to any successful relationship—so unless your partner has proved to you before that they are a no-good, lying cheater, then you have no reason not to give them
your full trust, respect and Facebook privacy.
Keeping old pictures. It can be tough to part with memories, but if you’ve got a Facebook filled with memories of an old flame, for your new flame’s sake, it might be best to delete the ex pictures. The past is the past and your ex is an ex for a reason…don’t risk your new partner feeling insecure or worried that you are still hung up on an old relationship. Give your Facebook a makeover and get up to date with new content of your new relationship.
Joe Morris is a guest post author who shares with us the ways that Facebook can unravel a relationship. In addition, Joe also owns Best Internet Dating Sites where he offers online dating advice to singles on the web.