Alex O'Brien
Relationships

The one person you shouldn’t be friends with on Facebook

The advent of social media means that when a relationship ends things can get tricky. Where as once it was relatively easy to achieve a “clean break”, Facebook and other social platforms has meant that access to an ex partner or friend is available around the clock. But should you take that as an invitation to keep tabs on their behaviour? Absolutely not, according to a recent survey carried out by match.com.

The “Singles in America” study surveyed more then 5,500 single adults in 2015 and found that people who do not keep tabs on their ex partner via social media are 73 per cent more likely to be happy than those who do. That’s an enormous statistic to get your head around. Experts believe that this is due to constant Facebook “snooping” making it very difficult for us to move on and achieve proper closure. Being able to “see” our ex partners on a daily (or many times daily basis) just reaffirms that we are no longer in a relationship with them. This is not an especially healthy headspace to dwell in, regardless of whether you were happy about the end of your relationship or not.

With this in mind it may be time to hit the “unfriend” button and delete your ex partner from your Facebook account. Think of it as a gift of closure to yourself.

Related links:

Breaking up doesn’t have to break you

5 bad relationship habits to avoid

The rise of the “divorce selfie” as couples amicably split

Tags:
happiness, love, relationships, social media, ex