Facebook Relationship Status Updates: A Primer
Ever wondered how different 'dating' is from 'seeing someone'? So that you don't date yourself, here's a primer on relationship status updates for this Facebook age.
Dating terminology has long confused me. Exactly when do you go from dating to seeing someone? Is that around the same time as going from 'friend' to 'boyfriend/girlfriend'?
While I have 'dated', I haven't really been in too many serious relationships, which is why questions that deal with relationship milestones and transitions leave me perplexed.
To complicate matters, we now have social-media relationship markers! It's as if, if a relationship isn't defined and broadcast on Facebook, it ain't real. (Bah!) So, after considerable research, I present to you the general progression graph of a relationship in this day and age. The timeline is not intended to be definitive, so feel free to customize it as you draw your own relationship graphs!
1. Status updates
You have been dating, things feel special and without making it obvious, you'd like to share the gleefulness of your relationship. That's when status messages like a mere smiley or 'He got me flowers', 'She baked me a cake' start making an appearance on your wall. And of course, in most cases within seconds, a 'Like' from the better half appears beneath the status.
2. Rat-a-tag-tag
With the advent of tagging, slowly, the name of the person crops up in your status messages. "Really want to watch XYZ movie. Heya @abc wat say?" It's often a dead giveaway, but you still have the cover of just being movie-watching buddies. So, the status of your relationship can still be ambiguous.
3. Photo protocol
Now that the world suspects you've been hanging out together, there's no harm in presenting photographic evidence, right? In come pictures, often clicked by a precariously outstretched arm, estimating the frame to fit you both into. Of course, the photos are liked by a couple of friends, and comments overflow. But nothing matches the wave of likes and comments you will receive for your next moment!
4. Relationship status
Now this is where it turns official. You change your relationship status to "In a relationship" and let grief loose on your admirers by officially announcing that you're now off the market. Naturally, you status update is deluged with 'Likes' and many people request details. Now, if you were ever to change your status back to 'Single' or 'It's complicated', be prepared for a barrage of "What happened?!" messages.
On the other hand, if you heed the signs, in time, you may find yourself updating your relationship status to 'Engaged' and 'Married'!
Image courtesy of khalidalbaih via Creative Commons.
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