Tangled World Web We Weave

In a world where you can be friends with people you don’t actually talk to, your scrapbooks are digitally enhanced.....

...and nearly anyone can read your conversations, it’s no surprise personal displays of affection between couples has taken on a whole new meaning. Facebook allows couples to shout their love from the virtual mountaintops of social media. Sharing is caring, but where do we draw the line between security in a stable relationship and airing dirty laundry?

In profile pictures everywhere couples showcase their status with serious Public Displays of Affection or PDA’s. Keep in mind this is the picture that represents you to your friends on facebook. I get the novelty and fun of it. You’re in love and you want the world to know. Congratulations, but where do you draw the line?

I can tolerate mushy pics up to a certain point but please, keep the pictures of you and your partner in a full on maul to yourself! 

On the subject of too much information, wall posting should be limited to sharing things with a significant other that can only be shared on the Web: e.g. links to videos they would like, songs that remind you of them, even a sporadic funny thought that comes to mind. Recounting private, dramatic or even steamy details from last weekend does not belong on a public wall. Save it for a private inbox or text message.

 e.g. “Hi snookie-pookie, loved what you did last night, you naughty boy!” (BARF!) Why couples leave those comments on each other’s wall is beyond me. I don’t know why they wouldn’t just say it to them in person and save me the horrific visuals! My advice would be to only post things on Facebook that you would say in person, in front of your whole family at a dinner table!!

Top FB Faux Pas:

1. Poking incessantly—it’s just not cool
2. Being in a relationship with someone one day, and then not. Oh wait, now it’s back on again, but then it’s over again. Too many posts on the newsfeed about you are not good.
3. Posting on your significant other’s wall so much you have written ten posts before you get one reply from them. If your partner isn’t into it, maybe you should cool it.
4. Adding you ex’s new guy or girl. Can you say awkward?
5. Stalking your new boo’s photos and wall posts with their ex. That’s just creepy.
6. Depressing quotes as status updates after a break-up. You’ll be avoided like the plague.
7. Liking or commenting on an ex’s new relationship status.
8. Liking every single one of your significant other’s pictures and posts. You’re attracted. We get it.
9. De-friending your ex, but checking up on them from your friends’ accounts. Snakey!
10. Posting a million pics of yourself where you are in your underwear or swimsuit. It’s just uncomfortable to look at!

Deirdre Conroy

This article was first published in the print edition of expliCIT - May 2010.