Together on Social Media

How to balance social networks with your relationship

It's no secret to anyone that social networks play a significant role in today’s society and it may be hard to balance that with your relationship. Whether we want to accept it or not, most people spend a considerable amount of their time and attention towards their profiles.

And as these platforms permeate every aspect of our lives, the emotional factor cannot be left out. So, even our relationships can be affected by social media.

Balancing social networks and relationships: the doubts

Some questions arise from this influence and may make it hard to differentiate the online world from reality.

• Should we change our relationship status?

• Must I share all our pictures together or be obliged to post pics each time we go out?

• Should I stop following other people?

• Should I unfollow the girls or boys that my partner doesn't like?

• And perhaps the worst of them all: Am I being unfaithful or disloyal if I don't?

Social Media is supposed to be a medium that brings us together but sometimes it looks more like a dangerous game where the health of our relationships hangs by a thread and may fall apart. 

In this article, I will be attempting to explain how risky this game is and the nightmare you may get into. If you are not sure how to balance your love-life with social media, I highly encourage you to keep reading!

INSECURITY 

First, let's think about social media pictures. They all look perfect! We use hundreds of filters to hide our imperfections; fake effects or filters that make us feel superior or like movie stars. And many times, this is how others see us, it may be cool at first, but it happens the other way around too!

As Social Media connects the whole world, chances are many people will be wealthier, better-looking and perhaps even happier than we are. We will see these people in their perfect world and we'll feel like outcasts, as is we don't belong anymore. We will see these people like they are better than us.

Then insecurity will hit us and the self-questioning will begin. We will torment ourselves scrutinizing every little defect or what we think is a defect: "Are my lips thick enough?" "Am I too skinny?" Or perhaps too fat?"

Then the questioning goes beyond that; we start questioning our status, or even worse, our value to others. Insecurity can make us go from a loving couple into a war of jealousy in a split second!

When you can’t balance your love-life with social media, you see that your partner follows and likes all those perfect characters and you begin to think you are not good enough. And after that, it's like a snowball effect and it will only get worse!

Insecurity prevents you from distinguishing reality and when it comes to social media, where the line is even blurrier, actions should be handled with tweezers. Otherwise they’ll drive you mad.

THE “PERFECT COUPLE” ILLUSION

In the same way that individuals fake a perfect life through social media, this modality extends to couples and friends. Fake love between supposedly perfect couples and camera friendships flood every social network!

People look so happy together. “OMG! They just got a baby or puppy!” “Look at them; what a happy life they are living!” Those are the thoughts that go through our heads every single second we spend on social media. And let's be honest, it is a lot!

But what we don't see is the rest of their day at home, how they live, how they truly relate. Have you ever thought that maybe the perfect couple fights half of the time at home?

That the happily married couple just talked about divorce? Yes, they may be posting pictures and leaving: "I LOVE YOU" comments but perhaps the words that actually hide behind are: "I HATE YOU!".

The balance resides in caring about your relationship more than about likes!

We all want to have a perfect relationship to post on social media. We all want to make people think we are the happiest person around but remember

1. The flawless relationship doesn’t exist.

2. It's better to be actually happy at home than faking it on the net.

Don't get me wrong! Unquestionably there are really happy couples and people out there that do know how to balance their love-life and social media. But remember that sometimes, that relationship you're longing for when surfing on social media might be right next to you.

And that doesn't mean that you have to share with the world as much as others need. Love is something you feel and feeling happy with your partner is something that you can share with people. But do it because you feel like, not because you think if you don't, it will mean you're not happy enough. Can you hear how it doesn't even make sense?

Find happiness in every little thing! Like cuddling together, doing things that make you both happy, and more importantly, don’t compare to others!

Final thoughts: real is what truly matters!

Beware of these recommendations when balancing your love-life with social media. And if you have any doubts about you and your partner being public to others, always choose to talk about it. Communication is the essential key between you and the one you love! 

Keep it real; you can't feel love through a smartphone or a computer. But not managing your online tools may damage your relationship. Remember to always prioritize your peace instead of a silly digital space.

Find happiness is every little thing like cuddling together. Do things what make you both happy and don’t compare to others.

Social Media can destroy a lot of things and people behind the screen don’t always wish you well. Be aware of all of it by stepping into this world and if you have any doubts about you and your partner being public to other always choose to talk about it.

Remember, communication is the most important key between you and the one you love.