As if maintaining a relationship isn't challenging enough,
modern-day couples have to contend with yet another potential
stumbling block in their love life -- Facebook jealousy. A recent
study found that the more time people spent on Facebook, the more
jealous they were. That's not all: The social networking site is
also increasingly being used as a source of evidence in divorce
cases, according to lawyers.
To be fair, Facebook itself isn't inherently bad for your marriage,
but one thing is for sure: If there are pre-existing issues in your
relationship, chances are that Facebook will expose and exacerbate
the cracks.
So what are some of the red flags to watch out
for?
Here's the lowdown on the kind of Facebook scenarios that can cause
relationship strife, and how to address them:
If things are going well, it's tempting to plaster your happiness
all over Facebook. But bear in mind that while you may be keen to
share details of your relationship with the world, if your partner
isn't this can cause friction. It's a good idea to first sit down
with your partner and discuss about how much you're both
comfortable with sharing about the relationship.
If you still have photos from past relationships lurking on your
profile, don't be surprised if your partner doesn't like the idea.
It might seem innocent to you, but you risk your ex thinking that
you've not quite moved on from your ex. If you uploaded it, delete
it from your profile. If you're just tagged in it, it's time to hit
the untag button.
If you've seen a photo, comment, status update etc. on your
partner's page that makes you uncomfortable, don't keep it to
yourself. This only breeds paranoia. You may have got completely
the wrong idea but you'll remain in the dark unless you bring it
up.
Should you accept a friend request from an ex? Hold off until you
have checked that your partner is okay with the connection. If
there is any possibility that your partner will be unhappy to know
that you are back in touch with an ex, it's always better to ignore
the request. Many relationships have been destroyed after one
partner reconnected with a former flame so if you do accept the
invitation, remember why you became exes in the first
place.
When you have a fight with your partner, never ever post about it
on Facebook. Aside from being hurtful, these heat-of-the-moment
updates can provide endless drama for your friends. Don't let your
relationship be the entertainment!
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