Why is it that Facebook users feel the need to share their relationship status with everyone online? Isn’t that personal information? How awkward is it for couples to announce their breakup online? Ever since the founding of Facebook, couples have had to seriously discuss the ways that they are defining their relationships. Facebook puts pressure on people to define certain aspects of their lives that was not previously discussed until information became public.
If a woman defines herself as “single,” does that give her unwanted attention from men and red flags to be hit on? If a couple goes out on a date or two, are they serious enough to declare to their entire online network that they are in a relationship? Before Facebook, couples would refer to this discussion as the relationship talk. Nowadays, a relationship talk is better known as becoming Facebook Official. The New York Times article “Married or Single: Is That in the Facebook Sense,” from February 2011, discusses some of the pressures of defining relationship status to the virtual world.
While I could understand wanting friends and family to be happy for you in your new relationship, or even the desire to announce that you are no longer single, don’t people worry about what will happen when their relationship ends? I cannot even imagine the humiliation of changing your Facebook status to single and having to respond to comments inquiring about what went wrong. Some things are better left private, and I think that relationship status may be crossing the line.
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3 comments:
I did not realize that the term "Facebook official" was a global term. Its interesting how the relationship status tool is treated the same way to millions of different users. I do believe that the idea of making your relationship status is somewhat invasive to one's privacy; however, I have oftentimes found that when one becomes single, others reach out to support that person. Perhaps it is different for some people, but I do believe that the tool can be helpful to some extent.
I will be the first to agree with the belief that the relationship status is invasive, and for a long time I left mine unmarked. However, as one who is currently in a "Facebook Official" relationship - as was pointed out so kindly by Yara in the class debates - I would seem to be a bit of a hypocrite.
As it now stands, becoming Facebook Official is just another step in the relationship process. It is also a convenient way to let other interested parties know that you're taken. The story I've always heard is about a woman who avoids awkward rejections by telling potential suitors to "Friend" her so that they can see her profile and note that she is in a relationship.
As for the possible humiliation of a Facebook break up, I figure I'll cross that bridge when/if I come to it.
You're welcome Drew. I'll be sure to monitor/announce any other changes that might take place on your profile.
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