Post by Admin on Dec 31, 2014 17:54:26 GMT -5
So, you're dating someone new? Lets talk about Facebook etiquette for when you're in a committed relationship. Cheating is already accessible offline, and social media can make it even easier. That being said, if you're in a monogamous relationship, there are some general rules of thumb you might want to consider. Obviously this all depends on your trust levels, but if you want to avoid unnecessary conflict, here are some tips:
- Changing your relationship status should be a mutual decision.
- Don't post about all of the ups and downs over the course of your relationship. Private business should remain private. If you want to vent, call a friend or family member - don't post it online for the world to see.
- Do: Tell your BF/GF if you're friends with exes. It's a good discussion to have (even if you don't agree on what to do). Surprises down the road only lead to questioning about the secrecy. If your BF/GF tells you it makes them feel uncomfortable, and would rather you don’t have them on your friend list, most partners would want to honor that request and understand where they're significant other is coming from. How would you feel if the situation were reversed? There's no right answer to if it's appropriate, but it's healthy to talk about!
- Its probably not necessary to poke someone. It's the equivalent of flirting at a bar. Yes, it's a harmless way of getting your sisters attention, but if you have something to say, say it in a message you wouldn't be embarrassed to have your spouse read.
- Everyone has eyes, and you can't help that you find certain friends attractive... but you may want to reconsider "liking" your crushes pics. Family pics are a safe bet, but topless or bikini pics are a big no-no. Even then, why keep in touch with other romantic interests when you're IN a relationship?
- Don't overanalyze friendly interaction that occurs on public posts (ex: walls, pictures, etc). If your spouse feels comfortable enough doing this in a public forum, it's probably because they have nothing to feel guilty about.
- If someone messages you and gets flirty, don't reply "Sorry, I'm in a relationship, BUT if I wasn't...". This honestly flat out implies you're interested. That being said, don't get mad when someone messages your spouse if they don't engage in a suggestive manner. They aren't responsible for other people's intentions - only their reaction and behavior.
- Use emoticons cautiously. Most of us can relate to over-using acronyms like "lol" and smiley's... but don't be over-generous with them as it may give the wrong impression.
- If your partner has agreed to share access to his/her account, don't abuse the privilege. A healthy amount of privacy is important. If your partner trusts you with their password, don't go snooping through messages from before you met. They likely don't have anything to hide, or they wouldn't have given you access. On the other side of things, if you're conflicted about sharing your password, ask yourself why? If there’s something you’re concerned about your partner seeing, chances are you shouldn't be saying or doing it!
- FINALLY, if you're in a relationship, it's okay to make cute posts about your significant other... But the rest of the world doesn't need a hundred posts about how much you love your partner.
Did you like this post? Please share it and link back to my site to help my online community grow! Thanks,
-Steven Binko
- Changing your relationship status should be a mutual decision.
- Don't post about all of the ups and downs over the course of your relationship. Private business should remain private. If you want to vent, call a friend or family member - don't post it online for the world to see.
- Do: Tell your BF/GF if you're friends with exes. It's a good discussion to have (even if you don't agree on what to do). Surprises down the road only lead to questioning about the secrecy. If your BF/GF tells you it makes them feel uncomfortable, and would rather you don’t have them on your friend list, most partners would want to honor that request and understand where they're significant other is coming from. How would you feel if the situation were reversed? There's no right answer to if it's appropriate, but it's healthy to talk about!
- Its probably not necessary to poke someone. It's the equivalent of flirting at a bar. Yes, it's a harmless way of getting your sisters attention, but if you have something to say, say it in a message you wouldn't be embarrassed to have your spouse read.
- Everyone has eyes, and you can't help that you find certain friends attractive... but you may want to reconsider "liking" your crushes pics. Family pics are a safe bet, but topless or bikini pics are a big no-no. Even then, why keep in touch with other romantic interests when you're IN a relationship?
- Don't overanalyze friendly interaction that occurs on public posts (ex: walls, pictures, etc). If your spouse feels comfortable enough doing this in a public forum, it's probably because they have nothing to feel guilty about.
- If someone messages you and gets flirty, don't reply "Sorry, I'm in a relationship, BUT if I wasn't...". This honestly flat out implies you're interested. That being said, don't get mad when someone messages your spouse if they don't engage in a suggestive manner. They aren't responsible for other people's intentions - only their reaction and behavior.
- Use emoticons cautiously. Most of us can relate to over-using acronyms like "lol" and smiley's... but don't be over-generous with them as it may give the wrong impression.
- If your partner has agreed to share access to his/her account, don't abuse the privilege. A healthy amount of privacy is important. If your partner trusts you with their password, don't go snooping through messages from before you met. They likely don't have anything to hide, or they wouldn't have given you access. On the other side of things, if you're conflicted about sharing your password, ask yourself why? If there’s something you’re concerned about your partner seeing, chances are you shouldn't be saying or doing it!
- FINALLY, if you're in a relationship, it's okay to make cute posts about your significant other... But the rest of the world doesn't need a hundred posts about how much you love your partner.
Did you like this post? Please share it and link back to my site to help my online community grow! Thanks,
-Steven Binko
