Speaking of Code

Why do couples openly communicate on Facebook?

Thursday, 01 December 2011    |    Tech

Speaking of code, the unstoppable social networking force known as Facebook has become an acceptable mainstream tool for social communication. However, despite it's widely applauded impact on our everyday lives, there are still a major annoyance that arises in some scenarios.

I'm sure we have all logged on to Facebook at one point or another and seen a couple in a relationship communicate with each other via their walls. This over the top advertisement for how in 'successful' and 'exciting' their lives are is surely one of the narcissistic and self-indulgent side effects of the social networking revolution.

This self divulging egotism and sense of self importance is used as tool by the user to splurge their self acclaimed incredible lives in our face. Notice how all these traits share a common theme? Self.

It's a social patronisation of so-called 'friends' thats designed to create jealously, envy and in some cases, low self approval.

On the positive side of the ledger, the user posting this information gains a few positive feelings, mainly those of achievement, increased self esteem and social embellishment. 

So what is this biggest irritant in the field of Facebook communication. It would have to be when couples communicate publicly as such:

Girlfriend Posts: "Hey honey, what do you want to do for dinner?"
Boyfriend Comments: "Feel like pizza? Can't be bothered cooking"
Girlfriend: "Yeah maybe, should also hire a movie. Any ideas?"
etc... and so on.

So, to reinforce the circumstances here, this is on a public wall of one of the couple, and not in the private messages, with which I'd have no problem at all with.

Despite this dreary and idiotic exchange of nightly behavioral rituals being a good example why couples should not communicate over Facebook, there are worse instances. I believe that a couple publicly communicating and in-joke us a far worse social networking crime.

Boyfriend Comments: "Honey, it reminded me of that time in Paris."
Girlfriend Comments: "Hahaha thats sooo funny. The Sponge Man!"
Boyfriend Comments: "lol he was very Tala!"
Girlfriend Comments: "lol :-)"

As you can see, this example is slightly more annoying. Not only are they communicating well aware that it will be displayed publicly on their friends news feeds, but they are ironically creating a sense of exclusion in this sharing with the -in joke.