By: Savannah Love Chadee
A single like on an ex’s photo, a new follower or a message left unanswered can turn an ordinary day into a relationship dilemma. In a world where affection is measured in notifications and trust can be tested by a scrolling feed, social media has become more than a way to stay connected. It has become another space where relationships begin, develop and sometimes fall apart. Sometimes, it is not what a partner says that creates doubt, but what they like, repost or choose to follow.
Suddenly, an interaction that might have once gone unnoticed becomes something worth questioning. According to an article published by the Gottman Institute, social media allows people to maintain connections with friends, family and romantic partners across distances. However, online interactions can also leave room for misinterpretation when people try to understand someone else’s intentions. For college students, navigating dating can already feel complicated, especially when the lines between casual dating, hookup culture and committed relationships are blurred.
As a Rowan student, exploring the dating scene myself, I have seen how social media can add another layer to these experiences, making it easier to meet someone, maintain new connections and stay connected to others even while pursuing a relationship. From situationships built through direct messages to hookups that develop after a night out, social media has become intertwined with college dating experiences. A follow request can signal interest, a late-night message can lead to a casual encounter, and consistent online attention can sometimes be mistaken for genuine commitment.
Yet when it comes to defining relationships and situationships, those same digital interactions can leave young adults questioning where exactly they stand. Are two people genuinely building something together or are they simply enjoying each other’s attention without the expectation of commitment? As a young adult navigating the dating scene, I believe being in a committed relationship means considering how your actions, both online and offline, affect your partner. Social media may seem like a small part of a relationship, but reposting content about cheating, entertaining the idea of being with other people or frequently engaging with sexually suggestive content featuring adult entertainers can raise questions about respect and commitment.
In a college environment where hookup culture is a recognized part of some students’ experiences, these actions can feel especially significant when two people have agreed to be exclusive. A repost or a like does not automatically mean someone is being unfaithful, but it can still send a message that leaves their partner questioning where they stand. For me, the issue is not about controlling who a partner follows or policing every interaction on their phone.
It’s about recognizing that commitment comes with consideration for another person’s feelings. If something would be considered disrespectful face-to-face, why should it automatically become acceptable just because it happens on social media? Behind the screen, these expectations can become even more complicated in situationships, where two people may act like a couple without ever defining what they are.
According to Figs O’Sullivan, a licensed marriage and family therapist writing for Empathi, a situationship is a romantic connection that may provide emotional and physical closeness without the clearly defined commitment or expectations of a traditional relationship. One person might interpret daily messages, likes and late-night conversations as signs of growing feelings, while others see them as casual interactions without any expectation of commitment. Social media can keep those connections alive through constant access and attention, even when neither person has clearly communicated what they want.
In some instances, the uncertainty can become part of the connection itself, leaving people searching for reassurance through online behavior instead of direct communication. At the same time, social media does not create every insecurity or trust issue in a relationship. Sometimes, it exposes differences in expectations that couples have never openly discussed. What one person can consider harmless entertainment, another may interpret as disrespectful or inappropriate.
Without honest communication, those differences can turn a seemingly insignificant post into a larger conflict. Fundamentally, I do not believe that social media alone is ruining relationships. However, I do believe social media has made it easier to blur the lines between attention, validation and commitment in the college dating scene. When likes, follows and messages become reasons to question where a relationship stands, it becomes increasingly important to distinguish online attention from genuine emotional connection.
A healthy relationship should not require someone to constantly compete with people on a screen for reassurance. Instead, both partners should feel secure enough to communicate their boundaries, understand each other’s expectations and show consideration for one another both online and offline. Social media may influence how we connect, but it does not have to determine how we love. Ultimately, the strength of a relationship is not measured by what appears on a screen, but by the trust, respect and commitment two people choose to show each other beyond it.
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This article was produced as part of Follow South Jersey’s student journalism program, which provides aspiring journalists with practical experience in professional news reporting and writing.
