Everyone likes to show off their blissful moments on social media, especially couples in their honeymoon phase who love gushing over their partner publicly. However, a recent study by Shotkit revealed that couples who post frequently on social media to show how much they appreciate their partner might not be as happy in real life.
In a conversation with the team of OnlyMyHealth, Lakshit Dhingra, Counselling Psychologist, offered a nuanced perspective stating that there could be several reasons behind these reported findings.
Why Do Couples Post About Each Other on Their Social Media?
Surveying 2,000 people in a relationship to assess their intimacy, communication and trust, and how much ‘couple content’ they share online, Shotkit revealed that 52% of the surveyed group indicated that they post pictures of their relationship online more than three times a week. Interestingly, only 10% of these people reported being ‘very happy’ in their relationship.
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Dhingra shared some possible explanations why couples who love to show off their better half online might not be as happy in their relationship:
- Attention-seeking behaviour: Frequent posting on social media, especially couple selfies, might be an attempt to seek validation and attention from others. Couples who are unhappier in their relationships may resort to posting more frequently to compensate for the dissatisfaction they feel within their relationship.
- Comparison and jealousy: Constantly seeing other couples' seemingly happy moments on social media might lead to feelings of jealousy and inadequacy. This comparison with others' idealised representations could increase dissatisfaction in one's relationship.
- Relationship insecurity: Couples who feel less secure in their relationships may try to portray a happier image on social media to compensate for any underlying issues or to convince themselves that everything is fine.
How Does Constant Online Posting Affect Romantic Relationships?
Dhingra further elucidated that frequently posting couples' content on social media could also contribute to trouble in your relationships. He shared some of the negative effects that frequent social media posting can have on romantic relationships:
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- Privacy invasion: Over-sharing on social media can lead to a sense of invasion of privacy, especially if one partner is uncomfortable sharing intimate details online while the other has a habit of sharing everything on social media.
- Comparisons and jealousy: As mentioned earlier, comparing one's relationship with others' highly curated online representations can lead to jealousy and dissatisfaction, which can be extremely stressful for any relationship.
- Distraction and disconnection: Excessive time spent on social media can take away from meaningful face-to-face interactions, leading to feelings of disconnection and neglect.
- Pressure to portray perfection: Constantly posting happy and perfect moments may pressure couples to present an idealised image, which can be stressful and unrealistic.
- Communication and conflict resolution: Excessive use of social media might lead to less time spent on meaningful communication and conflict resolution within the relationship. This lack of quality interaction could contribute to unhappiness.
Reel Life Can Not Compensate For Your Real Life
Social Media can be a beneficial tool to express appreciation for your better half and can also strengthen relationships if used in a controlled manner. However, couples must be mindful of how their online activities might impact their relationship and address any underlying issues that might be the reason behind excessive social media posting.
