So I'm being told a relationship isn't official until it's "Facebook official," that a relationship isn't a relationship until a couple has changed its Facebook status from "single" to "in a relationship with so and so." Really? Isn't that a little Jr. High, even though Facebook wasn't around when I was in Jr. High? Look, if people want to change their statuses, so be it. I really don't care. What bothers me is the contention that others knowing via social media ultimately determines the status of a relationship and that so many couples do in fact care.
My opinion is, if a person or a couple's romantic standing and happiness are predicated on social media acceptance, their relationship might have some issues. Common wisdom states that until a person can truly find happiness with another, they must first find happiness with themself. That same logic should hold true when the single person expands to two.
I'm not sure if any studies have been conducted on this, but just from my own observations, it's felt as though the couples who talk the loudest on social media are often times the most troubled. Think about it. Instead of spending time with one another, they're opting to obsess their time talking about their relationship on Facebook. Instead of telling their partner face-to-face on their thoughts and feelings toward them and the relationship, they're telling the online world. With that, it often times feels impersonal and almost desperate.
There's nothing wrong with keeping out-of-state friends and family afloat on one's life via social media, but outsiders don't get to determine the status of a person's relationship. Most of us remain ignorant on the private lives of others, no matter how close we may feel to them. Almost 100% of what we see shared on sites like Facebook are butterflies, rainbows, and "I'm the luckiest guy/gal in the world!," but we don't get to see what actually happens inside the home. We don't see the arguments, the misunderstandings, the gravel road each and every relationship travels upon from time to time. While we shouldn't judge a couple's relationship based on what they do post via social media, we also shouldn't judge a couple's relationship based on what they don't post. A couple's standing and happiness are predicated on their own thoughts, feelings, words, and behavior, not anyone else's. So if anyone contends your relationship "isn't official because it isn't Facebook official," perhaps it'd be best to just tell them, "Hey, it's officially none of your business."
My opinion is, if a person or a couple's romantic standing and happiness are predicated on social media acceptance, their relationship might have some issues. Common wisdom states that until a person can truly find happiness with another, they must first find happiness with themself. That same logic should hold true when the single person expands to two.
I'm not sure if any studies have been conducted on this, but just from my own observations, it's felt as though the couples who talk the loudest on social media are often times the most troubled. Think about it. Instead of spending time with one another, they're opting to obsess their time talking about their relationship on Facebook. Instead of telling their partner face-to-face on their thoughts and feelings toward them and the relationship, they're telling the online world. With that, it often times feels impersonal and almost desperate.
There's nothing wrong with keeping out-of-state friends and family afloat on one's life via social media, but outsiders don't get to determine the status of a person's relationship. Most of us remain ignorant on the private lives of others, no matter how close we may feel to them. Almost 100% of what we see shared on sites like Facebook are butterflies, rainbows, and "I'm the luckiest guy/gal in the world!," but we don't get to see what actually happens inside the home. We don't see the arguments, the misunderstandings, the gravel road each and every relationship travels upon from time to time. While we shouldn't judge a couple's relationship based on what they do post via social media, we also shouldn't judge a couple's relationship based on what they don't post. A couple's standing and happiness are predicated on their own thoughts, feelings, words, and behavior, not anyone else's. So if anyone contends your relationship "isn't official because it isn't Facebook official," perhaps it'd be best to just tell them, "Hey, it's officially none of your business."
Comments
Post a Comment