Some may say Instagram flirting
is purely innocent and you shouldn’t worry about it. But it can
actually ruin your relationship without you knowing.
Some flirting is truly innocent. You see a cute person at the coffee
shop and exchange a little flirty comment before grabbing your drink and
heading out the door. But there are also certain forms of flirting that
are actually harmful for your relationship – like Instagram flirting.
We live in a world where social media is nearly impossible to escape.
All of us have it in some form or another. Instagram is definitely the
front-runner when it comes to which social media is most popular. And
that means you can end up spending a lot of time on just this app alone.
That opens you up to trouble through it when it comes to your
relationship.
Social media’s role in a relationship
If you think social media like Instagram doesn’t play a huge role in
your relationship, you’re naïve. There are so many social media accounts
specifically made for the purpose of showing what a “real” relationship
looks like.
So not only do you have access to what your significant other is
“liking” online, but you have the pressure of those expectations. You
also want to show the world that your relationship is “perfect” by
posting flattering pictures of you as a couple. The truth is, social
media makes you feel like your relationship isn’t good enough.
How Instagram flirting is secretly ruining your relationship
You flirt on Instagram. It’s just the reality of how social media
works. Even if you’re in a relationship, you still probably send those
DMs, comments, and likes to a certain hottie. We all do it.
But do you realize how much Instagram flirting is ruining your
relationship without you knowing? Here are the different ways it’s
harmful when you’re in a relationship.
#1 It makes your partner insecure. Insecurity is a
huge reason many relationships fail. One person doesn’t feel great about
themselves for some reason and a ton of issues arise.
Instagram flirting is definitely a way to make someone feel insecure.
They know that you’re out there flirting with a random person and it –
for obvious reasons – makes them feel crappy.
#2 You’re not being completely faithful. Firstly,
I’m a firm believer in other people not being able to tempt you to stray
if you’re truly happy. However, if you’re engaging with others online
and Instagram flirting, you’re not being faithful. And for obvious
reasons, that can ruin your relationship.
#3 It causes arguments. Nobody likes to fight. That
being said, if you’re always flirting with people other than your
partner on Instagram, it’ll cause arguments. You’re betraying your
partner. No matter which way you look at it, that’s what you’re doing.
And it’ll make them mad.
#4 Jealousy is prevalent. Having a jealous partner
is horrible for a lot of reasons. Mainly because it means they don’t
trust you. If you’re Instagram flirting, it means you’re giving someone
else attention. And that will cause jealousy and jealousy often leads to
much bigger issues.
#5 You ignore your significant other more. When you
pull up Instagram and are flirting with other people, it can be easy to
get caught up in it. But that also means you’re ignoring your partner a
lot.
This can cause a lot of problems with intimacy and the health of your
relationship in general. If those issues don’t get resolved, it can
ruin the relationship big time.
#6 It makes you think your partner isn’t good enough. This
is just the biggest issue. When you’re Instagram flirting and hearing
how other people may treat you if you were actually with them, it makes
you doubt your partner. You see them as less than great. You start
seeing them in an unappealing light. And that’s just not healthy.
#7 Your significant other can see your interactions. When
you’re on Instagram, you can see what photos the people you’re
following like and comment on. Which means your partner can see what you
do on Instagram to a certain degree. This may cause them to get
suspicious and even check your messages and comments. They will
certainly get upset if that happens.
#8 You compare your relationship to the ones online. Instagram
is full of other couples. It’s even full of single people who want to
have a relationship that emulates that of the couples on Instagram.
This makes you see your relationship as inadequate. And if you’re
Instagram flirting, you’re probably engaging with people who also want
those types of relationships. It can make you judge your relationship
far too harshly.
#9 You start thinking about being with someone else. This
is harmful for so many reasons. Firstly, if you truly care about your
significant other, Instagram flirting can make you start picturing
yourself with that other person and not them. It can take your attention
away from your current relationship and basically make you think you
can do better.
But if you avoid flirting online, you’d never have those thoughts
because you’d be able to better appreciate your true relationship. Those
thoughts can definitely ruin your otherwise happy relationship.
#10 You stop seeking the “thrill” of flirting with your partner. Most
of the fun of a relationship is flirting and building that intimate
connection. When you get that online, you’ll stop seeking it in your
partner. That thrill will be lost and they’ll feel distant. This
definitely hurts your relationship.
How to stop Instagram flirting
If you want to save your relationship, you need to stop doing
everything that’s harming it – including Instagram flirting. Here’s how
to stop this destructive behavior.
#1 Spend less time on Instagram. Obviously, you need
to get off Instagram. Spend more time in real life. The app is great
for documenting fun and exciting moments in your life, but don’t forget
to actually live in those moments.
#2 Don’t engage with others who are flirting with you. There
are always those creeps online who try to flirt with you. Don’t pay
them any attention. You’re in a committed relationship. Act like it. If
you actually want to flirt with other people, then you may need to
reevaluate your current relationship.
#3 Appreciate the things your partner does offline. You
don’t need to document every little thing your significant other does
for you. If you start feeling like other couples have it better based on
the photos they post, take a step back and appreciate the things your
partner does for you every single day.
Something as small as a loving good morning kiss will never be posted
online. So appreciate those little things and you’ll be much happier
and won’t feel the need for Instagram flirting.
Just because social media is everywhere doesn’t mean it has
to be in your relationship, too. Don’t let Instagram flirting ruin a
great thing between you and your significant other.
