The internet has taken over. It’s gradually creeping into every aspect of our world, from organising our work calendars to reading the latest news. But the area that has been by far the most affected by this magical new invention is our social lives. Networks such as Twitter andFacebook have forced us to re-evaluate the way we present ourselves. We put a lot on display through these websites, sharing photos and a lot of personal thoughts. But how much should we be sharing about our love lives? Is it right to put the ups and downs of whole relationships up for public viewing?

Yes…

Expectation

In some ways, announcing to the world that you’re ‘in a relationship’ is just the expected thing nowadays. In fact, people would be confused if something this momentous wasn’t put up on Facebook. The web demands that we let everyone know whether we’re eHarmony Edinburgh singles or a long married couple. Putting this online will stop any pestering and annoying questions about why you haven’t changed it. There are easy ways out of this if you want to conserve your privacy – you don’t have to list who you’re in a relationship with or you can even delete ‘relationship status’ entirely from your profile.

Commitment

Changing your relationship status to ‘in a relationship’ also shows that you’re fully committed to it. It’s the final test and the sign that something is fully official when it goes up on Facebook. Your partner and plenty of other people would think you had some doubts about the relationship if you refused to announce its existence on Facebook.

Exposure

The internet with its fondness for total transparency exposes cheaters and liars, as it has done with many unfortunate celebrities over the last few years. This is advantageous for everyone – if your partner is being dishonest you’re far more likely to find out about it with social media in play.

No…

Break Ups

The prospect of the potential break-up is a very persuasive reason to keep your love life completely private. Seeing ‘Mr X and Miss Y have ended their relationship’ appear on your wall is always an unhappy moment and there will always be those few idiots who comment on it. Break ups can be a lot more painful under the public eye.

Smug Statuses

Another good reason for keeping silent about your romantic undertakings is that the smug statuses and cheesy photos that result from them can irritate others, especially UK singles. Posting overly gushy tweets about your other half is a sure way to lose a few followers.

All in all, it’s best to tweet in moderation. To avoid awkward questions always update your relationship status. But after this, try to disclose as little as possible about your relationship – it’s personal and should be kept that way.