1. How social media affects a relationship
A partner’s social media behavior is a growing concern among many. Unfortunately, how your loved one handles social media can create a sense of insecurity in a relationship, which wasn’t there previously. So, if you are disturbed by such behavior, should you confront your partner? If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, how effectively do you broach the subject so that he or she does not feel intimidated or accuse you of invading their privacy? Well, it’s not an easy thing to do. But we have some suggestions, which might help you to deal with the situation logically.
2. What experts believe
“This is an issue that most millennial couples face. We have become so dependent on social media that sometimes, we don’t even realize how much time we are spending on it. As a result of which, we compromise with the time we need to spend with our loved ones. No, wonder it makes them feel unwanted and unloved—two major factors for a person to feel insecure in a relationship,” said Shweta Singh, a Senior Consultant Psychologist.
3. First, find out what makes you uncomfortable
Besides the fact that it affects the time your partner spends with you, what other factors make you uncomfortable about your partner’s social media behavior? Is it because he doesn’t comment on your posts or share them? Or, is it because she is friends with people you don’t like? Or, supports a political view you don’t approve of? It’s important to know the real reason behind your discomfort.
4. After the self-analysis is done
After analyzing the reasons behind your discomfort, it’s time to decide how you address it without making your partner feel that you are invading his or her privacy. According to relationship experts, it’s always better to address the issue directly.
5. Don’t be judgmental
One of the biggest mistakes we make when we discuss problems with a partner is that we tend to become judgmental. Similarly, while discussing your partner’s social media behavior, you should not start something like, “You always spend your time looking at the profiles of young women. What’s wrong with you?” or “Your behavior towards me has changed because you have found more interesting people on social media.” Please don’t use such statements while discussing a problem. Be open to discussion and explain your problem logically. Tell how it’s affecting the time you both spend together rather than concentrating only on yourself.
6. Monitoring social media behavior
When you explain that your partner’s behavior is affecting the relationship, you might also have to answer how you monitored his or her behavior? Did you stalk your partner online or used his or her password to keep a track of his activity? If you resorted to such behavior, it will surely backfire. So, be reasonable and honest. Monitor your partner’s behavior without misusing his or her trust and without infringing privacy.
7. Set some ground rules
After you and your partner arrive at a mutual understanding, you should immediately set some ground rules like a fixed time for social media browsing. Do not entertain any social media requests or activity outside these hours. If there is something you do not approve of a person or groups your partner follows, let him or her know about that. Also, these rules should apply to both.
Source: TNN/timesofindia.indiatimes.com
