SPLICED LIFE /
COLUMN
ISSUE 01
Social media, bless it, has certainly made some interesting changes
to the way we do things in R.L. Take for instance how, post
2008, millions of photos of Big Ben, glorious sunsets and even
what’s for lunch suddenly began featuring a multitude of faces,
enthusiastically popping into shot from one angle or another
(or at the very least a desperate pair of eyeballs and a forehead).
I mean, obviously this is purely observation on my
part and I’m not speaking from personal experience
on any level here. I’m... just saying.
But also, dating. I’m not sure it’s even possible to list
all the ways social media has changed the nature of
dating, but for kicks and giggles, I’m totes going to
try anyway.
1) Social media gives you a chance you may not
have had otherwise.
Remember when you met someone briefly, got
their name and then got violently ripped apart by
clueless friends on their own mission - prior to the
coveted number exchange? Well, I don’t. (1986
baby, 1986) but I can imagine how immensely
frustrating that would be. Thankfully, that’s not
an issue anymore. Now all you need is a name
and a mutual friend or two and you’re A-for-away.
(Possibly borderline stalker too, but sometimes
you gotta risk it to get the biscuit).
2) Social media can alert you to a person’s
habits… including the bad ones.
Sites like FB aren’t only limited to offering the
information you provide about yourself. Friends,
family, and now even certain phones, are all able
to generously provide information about people
without their blessing. Incriminating photos,
lovely wall posts from Aunty Jenny about the
diarrhea your love interest experienced the night
before, and even being geo-tagged at a favorite
bar can tell us more about a person than ever
before (and possibly more than we care to know).
01
3) It works the other way around too.
Yup. Fail. That photo that your mom, who is new to
FB, just posted of you in 8th grade – the one with
acne and braces? Yeah. There’s a good chance your
love interest will see that before you do.
4) Social media makes cheating harder.
If I need to clarify whether or not this is a good
thing, you’re a douchebag. That is all.
5) Relationship status updates are now public.
And this includes breakups. Yay.
I mean, it’s great that your partner is now able
to advertise that they are “off the market” or
whatever, but the whole having to announce to
the world (and a host of nosy, vocal relative 2??F?B?N( ?2?fW"?b?BF?W6?( ?Bv?&??WB2vV??2FV??v?F?F?R??6?Vv?B?bVW7F???2?6???V?G2?@??76?&?WfV?( ?F??B??R6?( ?>( ?v?V???R????&VG?&RfVV??r??RFVF?v&?VBW?V????@??W'6???fb??b?6?6???VF???W2( ?G&???r?B?W76v??~( ?&V???&V??V7???BF?W&^( ?2??RVffV7F?fP??WF??B?b&WfV?F???f?"G'V???W76v??p???WB???BF?W&R$T?Œ?$T?Œ?Vv?BF??&R???6???B7G&W72F??2V??Vv????b??R?VV@??W???F???2F?v???6??6?FW"??W'6V?`?W?G&V?V??V6????r?6?6???VF?6?G&?fR??R??6?R??&V??r&?RF?FV??v?B6??V??R?2vWGF??rWF???v?BF?W???R?Bv?BF?W?F??( ?B?2?G2W&?0?'WB???R7Vv"??6??????4r?B??F??6Rv??@?F???w2??B6?&V6??RFF?7F?fR??B?fR?V???( ?6?V?FW'&?GV7F?f^( ?VffV7G2??'WB??5B???'F?F??6?6???VF????w0???RF?6VRv?WF?W"?"??B??W"7'W6?6&W2f? ?7V???r?w&??"?BV?7GVF???$Td?$P???W"f?'7B???fW'6'?6&B??&V6W6R??F???r?2v?'6RF??&VF??r( ƒ?Wb??P??G2&V?????rvWF??rF????r??RV????Fv?gN( ?gFW"??^( ?fR??fW7FVB?V?F?&R?V"??F??2W'6????V??Vv?6?B?(0??????