15 Social Media Habits That Are Considered As Cheating

Modern times bring new problems one severe issue is social media cheating. We have continuous correspondence on multiple social media sites Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Watsapp, the list is endless. The ease of technology and lack of accountability has resulted in us losing our inhibitions.

What is Considered Cheating on Social Media?

The saying goes ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ Surprisingly most people do not realize the social media cheating habits they have developed over time. Not only does it hurt your real-life partner but also damages your relationship with them. Go through our list of Top 15 Signs to check if you are guilty of social media cheating.

1. Secretive About Phone and Laptop

If you are over-protective of your devices or find it challenging to share passwords with your partner, you may be involved in social media cheating.

2. Deleting Chat History

The only reason you would delete the old messages or your search history is if it contained something your partner would not be pleased with.

3. Sharing Intimate Details

Intimacy should be between real-life partners. If you are sharing personal details online, this is a red flag. Psychologist and relationship expert Lissy Ann Puno was asked ‘it is not cheating if you are not sleeping together or saying-I love you’. She replied ‘Not necessarily’ physical cheating has transformed into social media cheating, similar to how communications have shifted from meet-ups to video calls.

4. Sharing Personal Problems With An Outsider

Relationships are built through hard work. It is convenient to have a friend empathize with you during relationship troubles. They are not emotionally involved and do not care. Unless you share problems with your partner, your online confidant will only add doubt and dissatisfaction about your partner.

5. Sending Pictures Without Purpose

Sharing your pictures with close friends is okay to keep them updated. However, frequently sending pictures to a friend you had a crush on is regarded as social media cheating.

6. Texting Flirty People

We survive on validation hence the reason for continually sharing our lives online. This habit becomes a problem when you wait for flirty responses from friends instead of your partner to feel good about yourself.

7. Friending Strangers Based On Their Profile Pictures

Have you been accepting friend requests based on their appearances? This action is a clear sign of social media cheating. Family therapist Jacklyn Cravens Pickens proves in her paper Facebook Infidelity: When Poking Becomes Problematic, social media sites promote false personal image and lives, leading to cheating.

8. Keeping Active Contact With Your Ex

All of a sudden, you see your Ex’s picture in Facebook recommendations. The adrenaline rushes as you scroll to check how they have been doing lately. Send them a friendship request to show-off your successes. It is easy to talk to someone you previously had a close relationship with. Besides, the reasons for your breakup are forgotten now, you chat together reminiscing old times and happy dates. This behavior is a social media habit that is considered as cheating you need to get rid of.

9. Sending Flirty Emojis

There is no harm if nothing is said-right? Although no words are delivered, emojis tend to be very flirtatious as you tease the correspondent’s imagination.

10. Online Friends

Other than close friends, we all invest in a few people from our friend list. We think they are good-looking; we often check-up on them, celebrate and share unpleasant times. Dr Jayson Dibble explains in his research paper that regardless of how well our real-life relationship is going, we keep backups to feel safe.

11. Uploading Sexy Pictures

Are you uploading more sexy pictures, since that person you were attracted to, started following you? If yes, then you are guilty of social media cheating. Dr Dibble mentions in his paper since it is relatively easy to interact with our homes’ comfort; we do not consider the consequences of our actions.

12. Late Night Conversations

Are you frequently engaging in midnight conversations with a cute co-worker, with no reason except to share personal jokes and stories? Statistics from the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys have observed the use of social media conversations as evidence of infidelity in 81% of divorce cases.

13. Fake Accounts

If you are using a fake name and fake picture to befriend people you openly would not associate with, you are in breach of your partner’s trust.

14.  Video Chats With Dating Website Friend

If you are in a relationship, there is no need to stay in-touch or Skype with an attractive ‘friend’ from a dating website. The sole purpose of these websites is to find you a suitable partner.

15.  Racy and Raunchy Comments

There is an appropriate way to appreciate someone’s appearance without leaving thirsty comments on their pictures. This behavior is associated with social media cheating.

So, What to Do Not to Be Caught Cheating on Social Media

Social media is pleasurable for a few moments; eventually, it negatively affects your relationship. Moreover, it causes anxiety and depression. Research showed in 2019, a person spent on average 2 hours and 24 minutes on social media sites. Instead of looking towards online acquaintances make emotional and trustful connections with your partner.

The simple solution to breaking social media cheating habits is through transparency. Whenever interacting online, simultaneously ask yourself, if my partner were to see this, would they approve?

Frequently Asked Questions

You need to be careful when it comes to unfaithful affairs, especially in the digital age where everything you do is stored somewhere. Whether it’s text messages, phone conversations or emails, your actions will always find their way into the public domain. However, one area that doesn’t seem to get as much attention is social media. How do you know if you’re being cheated on via a social network? We have the answers in our FAQ below.