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Preventing Digital Infidelity

It’s no secret that the act of  infidelity has been around for centuries, ever since the concept of marriage was constructed. In the past, the reason that people used to cheat was to escape their own marriage, which was seen as more arranged, or more of a construct. It was common to not marry for love, which is incredibly different from society today. In modern times, most people will marry for the sake of love; they see themselves growing old with that person. Yet the problem of infidelity still remains, though partnerships are filled with more love than ever. 

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A large reason as to why infidelity is still a common problem today is due to the advancement of technology, which has also led to the emergence of social media and dating apps. It has never been easier to contact others, as it takes a click of a button to talk to them. Unfortunately, this had led to the increase in infidelity due to the sheer simplicity. Digital infidelity can take many forms, and depends for many different people. For some, simply a like on Instagram cannot be harmless, whereas some draw the line at continuing to use Tinder whilst in a relationship. Because the access to social media and the internet is so easy, there are also many ways to prevent falling down a hole. 

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The big way to prevent digital infidelity is to be honest with one’s partner. This step is crucial because it shows that the relationship has trust, which should be present in any type of relationship, whether it be virtual or in person. Being honest includes communicating with one’s partner what entails as “cheating”, as infidelity means different things to different people. Being honest also includes not keeping any secrets with partners, as secrets invite hostility and lack of trust.

 

Another way to prevent falling into a hole is to making meaningful and strong connections with holding conversation and spending quality time with one another. The one last way to prevent digital infidelity is to understand that cheating exists in a physical and emotional sense. If one’s heart isn’t in a relationship, it can quickly lead to going online to find outlets for frustration. In general, it is crucial to understand that digital infidelity is extremely easy to fall into with how easy access is, but preventing oneself simply requires honesty and trust. 

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Mcdaniel, Brandon T., et al. “Do You Have Anything to Hide? Infidelity-Related Behaviors on Social Media Sites and Marital Satisfaction.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 66, 2017, pp. 88–95., doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.09.031.

 

Weigel, Jenniffer. “Online Infidelity: Identifying, and Dealing with, Cyber Affairs.” Chicagotribune.com, 14 Jan. 2015, www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-0120-cyber-cheating-20150114-story.html.

By: Sara Adnan

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