A soft vibration comes from your phone, you are eager to check it. You open up TikTok, and mindlessly scroll. “Three month rule,” “Micro-cheating,” “True love,” “love bombing.” Everyone has heard it.
Truth is, many come to the conclusion that social media has killed romance. This is partially true, as different media such as movies and trends have altered expectations of romantic relationships. Social media is known to fuel jealousy and insecurity in relationships, causing many to split apart. With all these rules and immature terms, many forget about the genuine affection and commitment that come with a relationship.
When people think of romance movies, one of the first to come to mind would likely be “The Notebook.” As beautiful as the story is, its depiction of long-term relationships is unrealistic. From cheating and having constant sexual encounters to falling in love in an instant, many movies disregard the elements of an actual relationship. These elements include hard work, patience, communication and commitment. Movies and books put a lot of emphasis on sex life, while dismissing the core elements of real commitment.
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, although a great tool, unfortunately, can be used for graphic content. Explicit content as a whole has set unrealistic expectations in sexual and romantic relationships, as it disregards intimacy and brings insecurity to both partners. In fact there are various AI apps like Rizz, that promote “romantic” and “intimate” responses, which lack real dedication to your partner. AI can be a source of sexually suggestive material, which sets unrealistic physical standards. Those who use AI to these extremes can pervert a person’s understanding of a real relationship, but also neglect the true meaning of romance.
Social media is said to have ruined people’s perception of both romance and love. Apps like TikTok and Instagram are the main perpetrators of this issue. Although this is partially true, the main cause are those who spread, post negative relationship status and interact on social media. Online, people have come up with the “Three-Month Rule,” which indicates that after three months of dating, you can expect the relationship to end. “Situationships” describe a scenario in which two people are getting to know each other but are not officially together. Another example is “Love bombing,” which is a manipulative tactic where someone gives you more affection. Love bombing is considered as someone who pushes for commitment at a short period of time, but at the end will lack loyalty. “Micro-cheating” is commonly described as an individual who has committed infidelity. For example an individual could be talking to their ex, using dating apps, hiding or keeping secrets from your partner. Micro-cheating is often compared to cheating, but in truth Micro-cheating dismisses values of trust in lovers. Relationships do not have rules, but social media has created a newfound insecurity in many through constant false depictions of romance and affection.
It is important to understand that social media is a great source to share and communicate with your partner, but at the same time, it has ruined many people’s perceptions of what relationships should and should not look like. In the end, healthy relationships should be determined by both partners, not rules set by others.
