Search "relationship" in Google. What is the first suggestion that comes up? For me it's "relationship goals." Expectations of relationships varies, whether it's between a male and female, male and male, female and female or even two friends. Yet, it seems as though we, as a society, let Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and other social media apps tell us what our relationships should be like. According to social media, your significant other should surprise you with flowers unexpectedly, shower you with gifts, be there for your every need, choose you over anything and anyone, be romantic every second of every day. Sure, couples do these things all the time. If you want a relationship like that or if you have one, good for you, that's amazing. But others who do not have a relationship like that pine for one so much. Why? Why should someone else's relationship be your "goals?" If you're content with hanging out once in a while and keeping it low key and inexpensive, why is that so bad? Why are relationships that aren't all over social media questioned by others?
When social media tells you how your relationship should be and you start to change because of it, there's something wrong. Without social media, would your relationship be the same? Are people only doing these things because it's what society wants to see or expects to see? For those who are single and think they need a relationship, that is so false. These posts online make you think you need to be with someone and it needs to be perfect. I guarantee you, if you try to force something just to be in a relationship, it probably won't work. This also goes for bad relationships being broadcasted on social media. If he or she cheated, I would rather not see that, and I hope others wouldn't feed off of that, either. Don't bring attention to negative things and put someone else down just to make yourself look better. No one wants to see how he might've gotten back at her or vise versa. We have this idea that people need to know or people need to see, but what good does it do? Maybe it makes you feel better for a short amount of time, but I hope people realize it will shy so many people away from you. Posting about bad relationships will not stop bad relationships; it is just incentive for people to post more and more negative things about relationships for attention.
Everything in our lives are so public, and that's just the generation we live in. Nine times out of 10, we will open an app and see something about a relationship, whether it's bad or good. Don't let someone else's relationship be the goal of what you think your's should be. Don't feed off of someone else's bad relationship and the fact that they're publicizing it. Be with your significant other and do what you feel will make them happy and make yourself happy. Stop trying to please the people who may like your photo on Instagram, retweet your tweet or like your Facebook post. Eventually, social media will tear down relationships that are so real. Don't let it dictate how you love or how you want to be loved. Keep it simple and keep it honest.
