AJ Thurman | Collegio Reporter

What they ate for lunch, their phone number, e-mail and relationship status. All of these things are commonly made public on social networking sites, particularly Facebook.
Staying connected with friends and family has become easier with the addition of social media sites. There is an option on Facebook to list one’s relationship status: single to married and everything in between. When someone changes his or her relationship status, it becomes public for all of their Facebook friends to see.
Katy Porter says she thinks the relationship status option is too intrusive.
“The relationship status on Facebook is just a way to let everyone into your business,” said Porter, sophomore in social work. “I stopped using it a long time ago.”
To some people, having their relationship status being current is a big deal. Molly Burr says maybe too big a deal.
“My friends and I make fun of Facebook relationship statuses,” said Burr, senior in psychology. “We always say, ‘It’s not official until it’s on Facebook.’”
Both Porter and Burr say they have been in “Facebook official” relationships in the past.
Burr says after she broke up with her boyfriend, he blocked her from being able to see any of his posts. Burr says this didn’t really bother her, but he started to date one of her friends.
“I didn’t unfriend her,” Burr said. “I tended to avoid or mock her statuses, though.”
Porter says she doesn’t go out of her way to avoid her ex-boyfriend when she’s scrolling around Facebook.
“I just didn’t really ever click on his comments or anything after we split,” Porter said.
Christina Smith says having Facebook and relationships intermingle is more trouble than it’s worth.
“If you’re not careful, it can ruin relationships between boyfriends/girlfriends or even best friends,” said Smith, sophomore in graphic communication.
Porter says it’s unhealthy for most relationships to be part of something so readily available to the world. Porter says broadcasting your social life most likely won’t end well for anyone.
“It’s an easier way for words to be misconstrued,” Porter said. “I think Facebook can play a big role in couples breaking up.”
Smith says she knows of an instance where a relationship has ended because of events that occurred on Facebook.
“I know someone who broke up with their boyfriend because he liked another girl’s picture,” Smith said. “It was something stupid, but it can cause someone to feel insecure or unsafe in their relationship.”