You might want to think twice before posting "Best hubby ever!!!! #blessed" on Facebook today. When you post lovey, affectionate updates, your friends don't exactly react the way you might expect, according to a new study soon to be published in the journal of Personal Relationships.
Researchers created 24 fake Facebook profiles (complete with photos and relationship statuses) and asked 114 undergraduate students to rate them. Then they posted status updates from each one, which varied from high relationship disclosure (such as, "Pining away for Jordan…I just love you so much I can't stand it!" Ugh…come on), low relationship disclosure ("I love my girlfriend <3", Kinda cute), or neutral (e.g., "Phoneless for a bit, email me!" Totally allowed). After a little Facebook stalking, the participants completed a survey about these fake profiles, which asked them to rate the user's relationship commitment and satisfaction plus their overall likability.
Here's what they found: Users who posted shamelessly about their bond were perceived to be in the highest quality relationships, but they were the least likeable! Interestingly, users who posted about anything but their relationship were rated as the most likeable. But it looks like some subtle bragging is fine, since users in the low disclosure category (profiles that said something like "I love my boyfriend") scored right in the middle for both perceived relationship satisfaction and likeability.
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So does that mean all virtual displays of affection are out? Not necessarily. In another part of this study, the researchers took over real couples' Facebook profiles and had a group of participants rate their perceived relationship satisfaction. They found that users who made their bond Facebook official and had a couple-y picture as their profile photo were thought to be most satisfied with their relationships. And apparently, that profile photo is even more important than the relationship status: Users who had a photo with their S.O. but didn't reveal their relationship status were still rated higher than users who were listed as in a relationship but didn't have a couple photo. So if you really want to brag on Facebook (and still be liked) feel free to share that adorable Instagram shot of you and your guy on vacation and leave all the mushiness out of your status up dates.
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The bottom line is, most of your friends will be happy you're happy, but Facebook isn't exactly the place for all the gushy details. That said, you may not really care what anyone thinks of your profile (#sorrynotsorry), and in that case, you just keep doing you! But if you're worried about your boss, coworkers, or acquaintances judging you based on your posts, you may want to cool it with the over-the-top romantic updates.
MORE: Don't Let Social Media Wreck Your Relationship
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