When Your Relationship Takes Over Your Feed

We’ve all seen them – the couples whose social media feeds are a never-ending slideshow of couple selfies, mushy captions, and play-by-play updates of their latest date. While there’s nothing wrong with celebrating your love online, there’s a fine line between sharing the joy and turning your relationship into reality TV. Let’s be honest, the constant barrage of #blessed updates can feel inauthentic, and sometimes, downright intrusive. But why do people do it? And more importantly, if you find yourself falling into the oversharing trap, how do you hit pause?

There are a few reasons why couples might overshare. One big one is the desire for validation. In a world obsessed with likes and comments, a constant stream of happy couple content can be a way to seek external approval of your relationship. Psychologists also point to the idea of “relationship contingency self-esteem,” where someone’s sense of self-worth is tied to the success of their relationship. Oversharing might be a way to constantly broadcast that things are great, which in turn, reinforces their self-esteem.

But what about the impact? Oversharing can create a pressure cooker for the relationship itself. When every fight and milestone is documented online, it removes the privacy and intimacy that allows couples to navigate their own issues. It can also put undue pressure on the relationship to constantly live up to a curated online image.

Let’s not forget the friends on the receiving end. A steady diet of coupledom can feel exclusionary, especially for single friends. It can also downplay the complexities of real relationships. After all, no relationship is sunshine and roses all the time.

So, how do you find a healthy balance? Here are some tips:

• Focus on quality over quantity. Sharing a special occasion or a funny inside joke is sweet, but skip the daily play-by-play.
• Maintain some privacy. Not everything needs to be broadcasted. Keep some things special for you and your partner.
• Let your actions speak louder than words. A genuine connection is more evident in how you treat each other than in a perfectly staged photo.
• Curate your feed, not your relationship. Social media is a highlight reel, not real life. Don’t get caught up in portraying a picture-perfect romance that doesn’t reflect reality.
• Remember, your relationship is for you and your partner. Enjoy it for what it is, offline and away from the pressure of likes and comments.

Social media can be a wonderful tool to connect and share, but it’s important to be mindful of what you’re putting out there. By striking a balance, you can celebrate your relationship online without compromising its authenticity or privacy. After all, a truly happy relationship doesn’t need constant validation from the internet.