Within the past week, the public have seen three major breakups - Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Demi Lovato. For each of their relationships, I honestly thought that the guy they were with would be the one for them, and I'm pretty sure everyone else thought close to the same thing. I've only thought this because of how social media has played off each of their relationships.
The only thing I didn't think about until now is how social media really affects relationships, whether they are personal or public. With any relationship, it is seen on any social media base - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, just to name a few. Throughout high school and college, we watch as our friends go through different relationships and hook ups, but we don't really think about how social media can affect our own personal relationships. I love seeing these kinds of relationships (or any kind of relationship) because I love secretly cheering them on from a far.
Back to those three lovely ladies! Taylor's relationship with Calvin Harris lasted 15 months, Gigi's (with Zayn Malik) lasting seven months, and Demi's (with Wilmer Valderrama) lasting six years! But apparently in some of those relationships there were "subtle" hints that they were either going to tie the knot or break up. But no matter what anyone says, drama or no drama, there is drama within any relationship and you can work things out. Here are a few tips for keeping a relationship alive and well and no always in the social media spotlight:
1. Communication: Without knowing what the other person is thinking, there is no way of knowing how the other person is feeling or thinking. If you love someone, say "I love you," and don't be afraid to admit it or afraid of what the other person is going to say. In order to move forward and grow, you need to be able to truly talk about your feelings.
2. Respect: One Aretha Franklin sang a whole song about it, so we must demand it. Respect each other's time, hearts, characters, feelings, and trust.
3. Quality time, not quantity of time: It doesn't matter how many hours you spend with each other, it matters what you make of them. It's okay if you go a few weeks without seeing each other, just make the best memories that you can in the time that is given to you.
4. Keep you what happens inside inside: So y'all have hooked up and it was the best time you've had together, but don't go bragging about it on every social media platform - keep it to yourself because sometimes the best memories that you make are the best ones to keep to yourself.
These can all relate to social media because with our generation it is a form of communication, we can show our own opinions, we can reveal just how much time we spend with our significant other, and we can share what happens behind closed doors.
Let me brake it down to an even smaller, more local basis and image. One of my really close friends is having some minor and, even borderline, major issues with her "boyfriend." Trust is a hard thing in this situation because Tinder is a thing in today's world. This guy still has one, probably still "swipping" left and right as he pleases. He also shares things that makes this friend think that she is "just a fill in" until he gets an ex girlfriend back. This isn't fair to either person in this kind of relationship. If you or someone you know is in a relationship like this, please talk to someone about it because this isn't the relationship that anyone should be in. I personally think that anyone deserves a relationship a lot better than this, especially this friend because she has been through so much and doesn't need this.
The crazy fact with relationships and social media (and technology) is that you get unwanted jealousy, return of that ex, forgotten memories, and much more. I know this may not seem so significant right now, but over time it'll become something that future generations learn is an okay thing to do. It's okay to date around here or there, but we don't need to brag about it or flaunt it.
We may become jealous of that one couple who seems to be perfect and you think that they'll last forever. They are at each others sporting events, in each other's Snapchat stories, in Instagram posts, and so much more. Don't base what you think you may want off of what someone else has.
