There are many women out there with partners that regularly 'like' other women's photos on social media. While some women are not bothered by this, others find themselves feeling jealous and wondering what the appropriate response is to the behavior.
For the ladies who believe that they are in the wrong for being upset — no, no you are not.
Let me be clear that I'm not talking about photos of a man's friends and family that he 'likes.' I'm talking about photos of half-naked women in bikinis and lingerie. Photos that are oozing with sex appeal and whose only purpose is to make a man's (or woman's) jaw drop with amatory drool. Surely this problem is not only limited to women. Men must deal with this issue as well.
But as a woman, I'm going to talk about the female perspective. A very common rebuttal for 'liking' another girl's photos is "Well, it's only a photo, it doesn't mean anything."
The truth is, it does mean something.
It doesn't really matter what a man believes his intentions are when liking another girl's photo. What matters is how his partner feels about it. It doesn't make someone "insecure" to doubt the intentions of their partner who is openly displaying their sexual attraction for another person. It makes them attentive.
When in relationships, humans are always subconsciously analyzing their partners to figure out if their values line up with one another. In this scenario, 'liking' another girl's photos often creates a conflict of values for the female where things such as loyalty and intentions are called into question. This is an involuntary process that occurs in the mind as a way to help one protect themselves, and is not a form of insecurity.
It's not about whether the girl in the photo has bigger boobs, better hair, etc. It's about the doubt that arises concerning the intentions of her partner.
If you're in a relationship, it is common courtesy not to engage in unnecessary behaviors such as 'liking' overly sexualized photos of men and women. If you want a long-lasting, healthy and happy relationship, have respect for your partner, and don't go 'liking' other girl's photos.
