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Think before you 'like' a photo on social media

New Delhi - "Social media is steadily playing a major role in break-ups because it does not allow privacy. There is no longer space for someone who regularly accesses social media sites," city-based child and adult clinical psychologist Dr. Ashima Srivastava said.

 Have your comments on social media brought unwanted trouble to your steady relationship? Don't be surprised, as this happens frequently!
Social media has been playing the demon in shattering relationships. According to psychologists, too much time devoted to social media is increasingly becoming a factor in the failure of steady relationships.
"Social media is steadily playing a major role in break-ups because it does not allow privacy. There is no longer space for someone who regularly accesses social media sites," city-based child and adult clinical psychologist Dr. Ashima Srivastava said.
Dr. Samir Parikh, director, department of mental health and behavioral sciences at Fortis Healthcare, echoed the thought, noting that social media creates disturbances when priorities get misplaced and this affects relationships.
"There are unrealistic expectations from a partner after seeing half truths/incomplete stories on social media and getting affected by it. One gets influenced by the unrealistic life displayed on social media and pressurizes the partner to lead the life thus displayed," city-based psychologist Dr. Ripan Sippy said.
Essential elements of relationships such as trust, personal opinions and space have become weak and hampered due to excessive use of social networking.
"Issues such as who has liked whose photo, who has commented what where and even things like private chats have become relationship killers," Srivastava contended.
Being mentally exhausted due to excessive use of mental capabilities on surfing the social media, one is left with little space for accommodating a partner's thoughts.
"Excessive tiredness and distraction of contents being discussed on social media also occupy one's mind and even if one is physically present he/she is mentally not totally present there as they are mentally preoccupied with other thoughts," Sippy said.
'Likes' and 'comments' provide one with positive reinforcement for posting information, increasing the likelihood that the site will be revisited multiple times a day. Excessive Facebook users are more likely to connect or reconnect with other Facebook users, including previous partners, which may lead to emotional and physical cheating.
"The main reasons for access are generally relief from boredom or for some sort of occupation while waiting," Srivastava said.