Perception ruins everything...
During the start of a new relationship both people make an effort to start off on the right foot, with efforts to dazzle on the first date by talking about future goals and expectations, showing off their witty sense of humor and insane good looks. All of this is the picture perfect idea of starting out with someone and honestly it would be all well if relationships stayed inside the vacuumed off privacy they start in. Sadly though, in the generation of drunk social media postings, awful tagged photos, tagged locations and endless amounts of videos and memes shared, your best impression is probably covered in social media garbage and on top of that, the amount of "relationship ideals" that are going viral have created a false image of what a relationship should be based upon.
Admit it- the first thing you do when you start talking to someone new is stalk them on social media and will probably make that a daily ritual. Guilty is charged on all of us. Looking at the statuses they post share and like has become just as important as the words that come out of their mouth. We have the assumption that we can discover who someone is through their social networking but that image is so distorted it's actually pretty disgusting. Like c'mon people, can you really look at someones profile and judge who they are based off of one really good or one really bad profile picture? How about the political post they shared or their long rant about work? No, you really can't and that's because you're being so limited but somehow, in today's world that has no affect on how quick judgement is made.
I'll tell you one thing. I am tired of logging into my social media accounts and seeing ridiculous posts trying to describe a perfect relationship. But I'm more pissed off at the fact that people actually believe them to be true. How many times have you been scrolling through Twitter or Facebook and see an image that plants an idea of what a relationship needs in order to be considered real and successful?
Three Ways Social Media Misleads Relationships:
1. You do not need to post you S/O CONSTANTLY
Hello, we all seen your first post and the last eight you posted within three hours. For whatever reason, people seem to think if they are not posting adorable selfies of their other half that no one knows they matter to you. I mean, it's pretty self explanatory or at least it should be. There should not be a constant desire for your relationship to be blasted on the web in order for you to feel appreciated. I mean, if you want the entire world to know your every move like a lifetime movie then go for it.
2. "Relationship Goals" are a lie
There is always a picture going viral that says something that your S/O should be doing, that they aren't doing. Instead of focusing on what they're not doing, take a good hard look at what they are actually doing for you. Just because they didn't put "princess" on your Starbucks order doesn't mean you're not special to them. Think about it, who honestly does that shit?
3. You are not the only person in their life
Its understandable to want to spend time with your S/O but unless you two are the last people alive, you don't need to be connected to the hip. Family and friends are a crucial part of someones life and if you're unable to handle your S/O spending time with someone other than you because a Tumblr picture said "He ain't loyal if he's with the boys" if you think that's true than you're the idiot.
Here's an idea:
PUT THE FUCKING PHONES DOWN! Go out and spend time with people. Get to know everything about them by seeing the way their eyes light up when they talk about something they love, or noticing the change in their voice when they talk about something that's taken a toll on them. Hold their hand instead of your phone, look at them instead of your phone.Get out there and date like you're not in middle school.
