By Sophia Aurang
Social media has become a massive hub for information sharing, a place where almost everything in the world exists at once. Friends, family, locations, news, opinions, and more are all easily accessible online. Having so much information at your fingertips can be convenient and entertaining, but at times it becomes overwhelming. One area where this becomes an issue is romantic relationships. While it can be fun to stay updated on who’s dating, who broke up, and how it all happened, constantly displaying relationships online can also be somewhat harmful. Although everyone has the right to post whatever they choose, a lot can happen thanks to the internet. Posting a relationship often starts innocently with maybe a subtle photo or a more obvious “hard launch.” However, once a relationship is public, it becomes open to opinions, comparisons, and judgment from others. People are quick to form assumptions, whether positive or negative. While comments like “aww, they’re such a cute couple” are common, they are often contrasted with remarks such as “I didn’t expect them together.” Gossip spreads quickly, and once something is online, it may circulate far beyond the initial audience. You never truly know what people are saying behind your back. Additionally, many social media platforms revolve around likes, views, and comments. When relationships are posted, they are easily subject to these. If one couple receives thousands of likes while another receives far fewer, it can become uncomfortable. Should the opinions of strangers or acquaintances matter at all? When love is shared for an audience, the authenticity of the relationship risks being replaced by perception. Social media also influences how people judge others. Many individuals, including myself, subconsciously form opinions about someone based on who they are dating. If a person has a positive image, it often carries over to their boyfriend or girlfriend. On the other hand, dating someone who is not necessarily the best can unfairly affect how both people are viewed. These assumptions reduce people to appearances rather than character. Keeping relationships off the internet also protects their most intimate aspects. Meaningful moments, private conversations, and even conflicts are not meant for the public. Privacy allows couples to work through problems without feeling pressured to explain themselves. Since disagreements are inevitable, presenting an unrealistic version of a relationship can make it harder to admit struggles when they arise. Ultimately, the internet is a public playground, and posting cute moments is not inherently harmful, and for some, it’s a genuine expression of love. The issue emerges when online validation becomes more important than real effort.