The Impact of Facebook on Relationships

There's no doubt that Facebook is becoming increasingly influential when it comes to relationships. When we're dating, we ask ourselves what we should and should not post about our dates, if we should friend them, or when we should change our relationship status. Sometimes what you do on Facebook can make or break a relationship.

Online Dating University recently constructed an infographic to show us how Facebook can affect our relationships, as well as offering tips for how to deal with the challenges we face.

Some interesting findings:

• The average percentage of single Facebook users by country is 39%.

• Women make up a greater percentage of Facebook's user base.

• Of all active Facebook users, 50% spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook.

• Those with few friends on Facebook tend to be more genuine in their posts, while those with many friends tend to have more superficial interactions.

• Facebook allows you to show a more positive version of yourself, boosting your self-esteem and contributing to overall happiness. But depending on how often you use Facebook, it can make you over-aware of yourself, causing stress and anxiety.

How relationship problems can occur from Facebook:

Overanalyzing. When you're on Facebook a lot, you can overthink your love interest's posts which can cause you to feel insecure in the relationship.

Everyone knows your business. When you post something about your past or current relationship, positive or negative, it may translate to TMI in your partner's eyes. Also, posting your relationship status before talking with your partner can cause unnecessary grief. What if he doesn't reciprocate, or what if he is upset by this public declaration before you've discussed with each other?

Break-ups lead to obsessive behavior. When you break up, your ex's new life is there for you to see on Facebook, including the pictures she posted with her new boyfriend. It's hard to resist checking in and seeing how your ex is faring, but it also makes it harder to move on.

What to do:

Talk about it. If Facebook is creating misunderstandings in your relationship, try being more open and honest in person with your partner. If you have a question or problem, it's best to ask directly. Communication is key in any relationship.

Look over your page. Be mindful of what you post. If your partner is uncomfortable by your openness about your love life and the types of comments you get from friends, maybe it's time to delete or change privacy settings. There's no need for everything in your personal life to be made public: agree to what you feel comfortable sharing.

Let go of your ex. Remove her from your feed so you aren't reminded of her every time you log on. Make a decision to not look at her page, or de-friend her if you need to take more drastic action. Allow yourself to move on.

For more information on using this social network as a dating tool, please read our Facebook review.