Do your friends always post loved-up shots with their other half, with gushing comments about their undying love?
Don’t be jealous, says Nikki Goldstein, an Australian-based sexologist and relationship expert.
Nikki says couples who overshare on social media are often just seeking reassurance about their relationship from others, and might be doing so to mask their insecurities.
“Often it’s the people who post the most who are seeking validation for their relationship from other people on social media,” she tells the Daily Mail.
“The likes and comments can be so validating that when someone is really struggling, that’s where they get their up from – not the person making the gesture, but what other people say about it.”
Nikki says couples so keen to take pictures of each other and immediately upload them to Instagram are often missing and not living in the moment with their partners.
“You see people who will focus so much on taking a ‘relfie’ – a relationship selfie – and getting the right filter and hashtags that they’re missing the moment.
“I think, why don’t you take a photo because it’s a nice memory and a moment you want to look back to?
“Couples are taking these photos, straight away putting them online and then watching the likes and comments instead of being with their partners,” she says.
Nikki says the trend is at its worst on Valentine’s Day, where people want to flaunt the gifts given to them or gestures made by their significant others.
She also suggested that common captions for relationship photos like ‘my man’ or ‘my girl’ could be signs of possessiveness.
Former celebrity couple Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek appear to be guilty of this. Sam often referred to her then-boyfriend as ‘my man’ or ‘my babe’, which Nikki claims is another bad sign.
Nikki also has some advice for the way you should post if you do want to take pictures with your other half.
“Some people don’t want to post about their relationship and some do, but if you are going to post… keep it fun and entertaining for people, not mushy and possessive.”
