Research has been done that shows the relationship status found on Facebook determines how happy relationships are among young couples. The true meaning of Facebook's in a relationship was an article I recently read in LA times by Shari Roan. It really caught my attention being that I am currently in a relationship and I felt that there are others who could relate to it. The study was conducted through the Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking. A total of 58 heterosexual mostly college couples who had been dating for an average of 19 months. The survey showed how partners declared similar relationship status through Facebook.
"The study showed that partners tended to be similar in how they used social media and the importance they placed on it. In 45 of the 58 couples, both partners reported being in a relationship on Facebook. And in 31 of the couples, both male and female partners showed their dating partner in the profile picture. Men were somewhat more likely to include their girlfriend in their profile photos than vice versa" (Shari Roan, 2012).
What the study also found was that there was a gender difference between how females and males felt about the importance of indicating, "in a relationship". It turns out that females thought it was more important for males to indicate they were in a relationship in comparison to males not thinking it was as important for their female partners to indicate they were in a relationship. I have to say I'm not too surprise. I think females have higher expectations when it comes to having public portrayals of their relationship status and men definitely don't need as much validation about being in a relationship.
Personally, I would like to have an equal relationship status with my partner because to me that validates the seriousness and commitment of our relationship in the sense that we are both in the same page as to where we stand in our relationship. Social networks may not seem as important to some and I would agree that it shouldn't be the only thing that defines your relationship. This is important to grasp though, when you have "Facebook friends" who happen to be your family members and close friends and co-workers you respect, and you don't make your relationship public it can make your significant other question why hide the relationship? Nevertheless, I think the main things is about being confident and secure with the relationship you have. At the end of the day, a Facebook relationship status shouldn't affect your relationship.
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