Basic relationship etiquette on social media

Being in love is such a great feeling that some people choose to share their happiness with the world via social media. Online social platforms allow us to live out some couples’ entire relationship without necessarily wanting to. Some shared moments are beautiful whereas others are extremely cringeworthy.

Different couples use social media for different reasons. Some partners are public figures and work with companies to promote products, other couples are social media stars who document their lives for a living and many other couples are simply in love and want the world to know it.

Here are a few rules to follow online when you're in a relationship.

There’s pretty much no limit placed on social media usage on most sites. However, you should set some boundaries when using these sites. Avoid sharing intimate and explicit information about you and your partner.

Your online friends don’t need to know what goes on behind closed doors. That’s exactly why some activities are done in private and away from the view of onlookers. Spare your followers and friends any graphic words, photos and videos of you and your loved one and limit your posts to things that you would comfortably do and say in the presence of people offline.

Social media drama is a slight guilty pleasure of mine, especially when a couple is involved. As much as some of us are entertained by your relationship mishaps, you may regret sharing those disagreements with the rest of the world.

Avoid reacting irrationally in the heat of the moment during a fight. If anything, the majority of your online community is more entertained by the drama as opposed to feeling empathetic. Resolve your conflicts offline and seek relationship advice from professionals and loved ones who you can physically see and talk to directly.

Staying in touch with an ex while you’re in a new relationship is a no-no. The past needs to remain in the past unless you share some responsibilities with them like co-parenting or running a business together.

In instances where you have to stay in contact with your former lover online, set clear boundaries so that your current partner doesn’t feel insecure.

However, if you’re still double-tapping and commenting on posts that your ex uploads, you’re simply showing your new partner that you have no respect for them. This is why it's so important to completely move on from your ex before getting into a new relationship.

The thing about keeping up with couples online is that we get so caught up in their relationship and, sadly, some of these relationships end and many couples who split up leave us in the dark without giving us closure.

I personally believe that if you choose to take us with you through your journey of love, you need to take us all the way till the end. If your relationship was a majority of your online content, you need to let your online in-laws know why you broke up. 

It's also important to handle this in a mature manner. Don’t slander your ex when you’re still fresh from the breakup. Briefly explain that the two of you are no longer together and that you wish the other party well.