In the age of perfectly filtered feeds and couple goals, we all know a few “picture-perfect” couples who seem to be living the dream. They’re always posting about their undying love, tagging each other with captions like “my world” or “my better half,” and filling their feeds with seemingly joyful snapshots of life together. But here’s the kicker—what’s behind the scenes is often anything but picture-perfect.
Social media has made it easy for anyone to curate the life they want others to see. A few well-timed photos can paint a flawless image that hides the mess. It’s almost ironic (and yes, kind of hilarious) how often the couples who scream “relationship goals” the loudest are the ones facing the biggest challenges behind closed doors. I’ve seen this happen with couples I know: while the online version of their life looks like a fairy tale, people who know them well share stories that sound more like reality TV drama.
I’m talking about couples who appear to live in bliss, only to discover that, in reality, they’re calling the cops on each other, deleting each other’s pictures on IG, and engaging in the most toxic behavior imaginable. And I think we’ve all seen it play out when people post endless gushing captions, only to purge every single trace of each other from their feeds weeks later, reemerging with some vague caption about “new beginnings" and obscure quotes about "deserving better."
Personally, I find it comical—and if I’m being honest, a bit embarrassing on their behalf. But more importantly, it’s a reminder of how deceptive social media can be and why broadcasting the intimate parts of a relationship isn’t always the best move. To me, taking down every photo of someone you publicly flaunted for months/years seems like a huge drag, not to mention a one-way ticket to public embarrassment. Why pour so much of your relationship into a virtual space if things can change on a dime?
For that reason, (from my own personal experience) I’ve decided: any relationship of mine won’t go public until it’s on solid ground—like, “we’re getting married in five minutes” solid. No drama, no extensive digital clean-up, no rebranding my feed every time a relationship changes. Because at the end of the day, the relationships I value most happen in real life, not on a screen.
Maybe it’s old-fashioned, but there’s something so appealing about cherishing a connection without needing anyone else’s approval or validation. Social media can keep its “relationship goals”; I’m perfectly content with the real thing—messy moments, challenges, and all—shared with the one who actually matters.
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Alejandra