Contributed by: Jet on Saturday, September 29 2012 @ 10:08 am
Last modified on
Over the last weekend, an acquaintance of mine has been pursuing a new relationship. He didn’t seem to have many problems finding casual dates, and there have certainly been more than a few one-night stands. But this woman is different. She doesn’t share all his interests - in fact, she loves a TV show that he actively trashes - but the connection they have seems to be far outweighing any differences. After their date, they spent all night talking in his car; they’ve been flirting through text message ever since.
I did mention this is just an acquaintance, right? Perhaps you’re wondering how I know all these intimate details about his love life. Well, it’s simple: I’ve read it all on Twitter.
Yep, that’s right. The one-night-stands, the flirtations that he knew would lead nowhere, the snap judgments, and more are all out on public display. Now, it’s not quite as bad as it sounds; he does have a closed account, so presumably only his “friends” can read this. The random women won’t be reading about their exploits if they do a search.
But let’s suppose this latest woman turns into a real relationship. Soon she’ll feel close enough to be deemed a “friend” on social media. Now she’ll be able to read about herself... and everyone else. Maybe she won’t mind; after all, almost everything about her is all positive, and anyone else is firmly in the past.
Now let’s consider a different scenario. A relationship doesn’t go anywhere, but they settle firmly into “friend” territory. Once again she’s added to social media, and she’s watching the blow-by-blow account of all his current flames. Part of her probably wonders what’s been said about her, and it probably stings, even if she has no interest in a relationship.
On other social networks like Facebook, it’s even easier to stumble across updates from the distant past. Yes, there are ways to filter, edit, and more, but it can be difficult to track the “level of friendship” with everyone, particularly when it’s someone new who travels through levels quickly. Perhaps you can manage posting about every thought and date, but why add the extra stress?
In today’s world of social media, perhaps we’ve become accustomed to sharing most of our thoughts and experiences. When it comes to dating, however, think twice. You see, you’re not just talking about your intimate, personal experience; you’re talking about that of someone else.
Do you want to know how to meet singles using social media? Take a look at our Twitter review to find out how.